Carole Cannon

Carole married L. Lee and had two sons from this union, Roland Wesley Smith and Mark Timothy Lee.

Carole had a decorator’s eye and the innate ability make things beautiful. Because of this gift, she was hired as a window dresser for Lane Bryant and excelled at making their displays. This was unique as Carole was hired at a time when stores didn’t hire black people to do this type of work. The talented Carole worked for Lane Bryant until she married Francis Cannon and moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970’s.

Carole was a very special person as she took on the role of raising Francis’s four boys as well as her own two. She taught them all very important survival skills as well as things that she knew would help them to be better people throughout their lives. Carole was deeply loved by her children and the grandchildren that came later.

Carole and Francis loved to host parties for friends. Parties “on the hill,” were common and the neighborhood was familiar with the sounds of Bobby Blue Bland, Brooke Benton and Al Green streaming through the neighborhood during the summer.

Carole and Francis also loved to have Fish Frys. In the early 1970’s they owned a local fish market and were also successful entrepreneurs in several business ventures.

Carole always loved to be a flashy dresser and wear a hat! You would almost never catch her away from home without wearing some bling and a hat! Carole also had a wry sense of humor and made people laugh hysterically at times.

Carole and Francis moved to the Salton Sea in 1989 and loved the peace that living there brought them.

Carole was moved to Lancaster California when her health started failing and was lovingly cared for by family until her passing.

Carole will be forever remembered by her beloved children:

Roland Wesley Smith, Michael Cannon (LaNeice), Marcus Cannon (Mirna), Paul Cannon (Annette), 19 grandchildren and multiple great-grandchildren.

Carole was preceded in death by her parents, Roland and Addie Lou, son Mark Lee; Husband, Francis Cannon; brother, Dr. Roland Smith and son Edward Cannon.

A funeral service will be held at Joshua Memorial Park Mortuary, located at 808 East Lancaster Blvd, Lancaster, CA 93535, on March 5, 2026, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

A graveside service will take place at Riverside National Cemetery, located at 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518, on March 6, 2026, from 10:45 am to 11:30 am.