Carleeta Christy

Carleeta is survived by her daughter Helen McClurd Lynch and her husband Larry Lynch, her two grandchildren, Shena Ruth Lynch and Robert Lynch and her son Howard McClurd with Joanne Ghanayem. She is also survived by her two sisters, Mae Dell Canter of Biloxi, Mississippi and Airlene Jarrell of West Virginia, as well as her step-sister Norma Dean and her three loving nieces and one nephew.

Carleeta married Ernest McClurd on June 27, 1953 at the age of 18. She had started nursing school but left to move to New Jersey with Ernest. She divorced in 1965 at a time when women were shunned for making such a decision. Through pure grit and determination, she moved with her two small children and began a job. She met her future husband Marvin Christy and married him two years later. Carleeta and Marvin remained in South Jersey until retirement and then moved to Fruitland Park Florida where they enjoyed life together for 5 years. Marvin passed away in December of 2001 leaving Carleeta a widow. After many months of mourning, Carletta sold her home in Fruitland Park and moved to the Villages where she began to live again. She made many friends and went on cruises, joined the Red Hat Society, volunteered with Dollars for Scholars and spent time decorating her own home and those of her new friends. She was very good at it! She spent time at the pool, went out for lunches, dinners, played cards, the slot machines, saw movies, theater shows, kept her home meticulous and drove her white Mercedes, which was the first car she ever picked out for herself, and her red “Jersey Girl “golf cart around town. She made plans every day.

Carleeta’s greatest joys in life were her children and grandchildren. She spoke with Helen and Howard every day and often visited them spending time together on trips, at the beach and shopping, which was her favorite pastime. She was always up for a trip to the local Marshalls or TJ Maxx.

Carleeta took great pride in her appearance and always looked beautiful. She went to the hairdresser every Friday and had a knack for coordinating her outfits and colors. She had quite the collection of shoes, purses and jewelry and at one point owned a pair of black leather pants!

Throughout her life, Carleeta pushed the norm. She was a tomboy before it was fashionable and worked on cars with her Dad. After she married, she took lessons on flower arranging, ceramics and crocheting and eventually developed an antiquing and craft business with her lifelong and dear friend. She made quilts, dolls and baby blankets which she donated to the church.

She was always ahead of her time and was able to keep up with technology which included her very loved Apple watch. She surfed the internet, sent pictures and texted those she loved.

We have heard repeatedly that she had a happiness and light that shone when she was with other people. She loved to be silly, glitzy and classy all at the same time. She made everyone around her smile.

In the last few years of her life she lived by the following mantra:

YOU DON’T STOP LAUGHING BECAUSE YOU GROW OLD – YOU GROW OLD BECAUSE YOU STOP LAUGHING.

Please remember her for her smile and her sass. She was very happy in her home at The Villages. She loved her independent life and her ability to do what she wanted when she wanted.

She felt this was a gift and thanked God everyday for that opportunity. She loved God and read her prayer books daily. May we all learn from her to smile more and make someone else smile every day. Wake up and thank God for the day as she did.

Until we meet again – your love and our love for you, will never die.

Donations for Carleeta Christy invited to:

Seniors First, Inc., 5395 LB McLeod Road, Orlando, FL 32811 | Phone 407-292-0177 | Fax 407-292-2773 | info@seniorsfirstinc.

Or

Kidney Cancer Coaltion, 8327 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, or online at https://kidneycan.org/

Or

St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at stjude.org

Dignity Compassion Helpline~

Friends & Family in grief, we give you the gift of free 24-7 counseling where all of our counselors have Masters Degrees or above. Please give Carleeta's name and ref# 4200.

Family counseling is free & unlimited for 13 months, at 1-866-649-9641

Friend counseling is free & unlimited for 3 months, at 1-866-649-9644

On the phone, or via skype, once you find someone with whom you feel comfortable, you can continue with that counselor.