Born in Jackson, Mississippi to the late Fred and Lura Barnes, Carsella was the youngest of four children. She was educated in the Jackson public school system and graduated from Jim Hill High School. Carsella was a graduate of Tougaloo College with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and received a Master’s degree in Social Work from Tulane University. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Carsella began her career in Nashville as a State Coordinator for the NAACP Tri-State Adoption Program, promoting awareness and outreach in the African American community. She also worked many years for the State of Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation as a Psychiatric Counselor, working with children and their parents implementing treatment plans and family counseling. Carsella also worked with adolescents as a Psychiatric Social Worker later in her career and as a Case Manager for Housing and Urban Development. She was a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (A.C.S.W) and received numerous awards for her work and leadership. Carsella enjoyed reading and spending time with her devoted husband Bill. She had been in declining health over the years and will be remembered for her generous nature and caring manner.
She was a member of John Wesley United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband William R. Greenfield III, sister Eleanor Davis, brothers Frederick Barnes and Grover Barnes and step-daughter, Lisa Griggs.
She is survived by five nieces: Deborah Barnes of Chicago, Illinois, Cynthia Clinton (Erskine) of Lexington, Kentucky, Angela Davis of Jackson, Mississippi, Ranetta Kettles of Kenner, Louisiana and Alison Barnes Baker (Corland) of Atlanta, Georgia; one nephew; Gerald Barnes of Memphis, Tennessee; Sister-in-law Delores Barnes of Memphis, Tennessee; step-children Michael Yarbrough (Angie) and Jason Greenfield (Cassandra). Best friends; Gwendolyn Rakes of Atlanta, GA, Mary Ruth Haynes of Memphis, TN and Norma Wade of Culleoka, TN.
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