Carmen Leigh Nesmith

Born July 9, 1991, in Hagerstown, MD, she was the daughter of Elizabeth A. Nesmith (Startzman) and the late Scott P. Nesmith.

Carmen was a 2010 graduate of Williamsport High School, where she played volleyball, basketball, and softball. Following in her father’s footsteps, she attended The University of Alabama, where her love for the Crimson Tide only grew stronger. Like her father, Carmen eventually found her own passion for leadership within the manufacturing industry.

Carmen was employed by Procter & Gamble for nearly seven years, where she truly thrived. After only three years with the company, she received the prestigious CEO Award in recognition of her leadership, dedication, and outstanding contributions. Carmen took great pride in the work she did and genuinely enjoyed her career and the people she worked with.

In addition to her mother, Carmen is survived by her mother’s significant other, Mike Jansson; sister, Ashton Nesmith-Kochera and brother-in-law, Dustin Kochera; niece and nephew, Nevaeh and Hayden; step-grandfather, Gary Jones; aunts and uncles; and many beloved cousins.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her soulmate, Timothy Coburn; grandparents, Cletus and Nellie Nesmith, Joseph and Mary Startzman; and her aunt, Jennifer Dyer (Startzman).

Carmen was one of a kind and known for her witty sense of humor and her ability to make you laugh when you least expected it. Many people told her she was the funniest person they had ever met and often joked that she had missed her true calling in stand-up comedy. Those lucky enough to know her, however, got front-row seats for free. She had a remarkable mind and a genuine love for history and animals.

She was also a loyal sports fan. Born an Alabama football fan, Carmen became an early fan of Caitlin Clark while she played at Iowa. She also enjoyed watching the WNBA, NBA, NFL, Baltimore Orioles, and Savannah Bananas. She even traveled to Las Vegas to see the Savannah Bananas play. More recently, she became a WVU fan after moving to West Virginia, and proudly supporting her niece who attends college there.

Carmen was an avid collector of sports cards and memorabilia. LEGO, Harry Potter, Toy Story, and Disney World brought her joy. Her beloved dog, Forrest, and her parrot, Saban, were her babies and the ones she most often preferred to be surrounded by.

A Gathering of Friends and Family will be held at Rosedale Funeral Home, 917 Cemetery Rd., Martinsburg, WV, on Saturday, September 12, from 5:00 to 7:00p.m., beginning with a brief Memorial Service, followed by visitation with the family. This will be an informal event, and guests are asked to dress casually, as Carmen would want.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in memory of Carmen to Kennedy Krieger Institute, which will help further the research, treatment, education, and community programs that benefit children and adults with special health challenges such as Autism and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.