Carrie Lucille Perry was born July 25, 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri to George Henry and Willie Lucille Taylor. Carrie was preceded in death by both parents, her brothers, Bennie J. Taylor, Sgt. Raleigh Taylor, James Taylor, John Taylor, sisters Bessie B. Hale, Julia McNeil, daughter Deborah A. Harris and granddaughter Britt I. Johnson. She was the last survivor of 22 siblings. Carrie graduated from Banneker Elementary School and later received her high school diploma from St. Joseph High School for Negroes. She was a devout Catholic all of her life, a faith she instilled in her children and continued to share with her entire family throughout her life.
She met and married George C. Perry, Sr. in 1945 and to this union three (3) children were born; Lillian, George, Jr. and Deborah. She believed in the power of work and she was a tireless worker, employed with Bussman Fuse Company for over thirty (30) years, both at the St. Louis and later Ellisville, Missouri plants. During this same time she also successfully sold Avon products. Following her retirement her activities included serving as a volunteer at various food pantries and each year at the annual holiday charity events at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and St. Elizabeth’s Mother of John the Baptist Catholic Church. Following the merger of these two churches she would be seen every Sunday at the 7:30 am mass at St. Elizabeth’s Mother of John the Baptist Catholic Church, seated in her familiar pew surrounded by her circle of friends.
She leaves to cherish her memory a daughter, Lillian Gray; a son, George C. Perry, Jr.; sons-in-law John E. Harris, III and Norris Gray; grandsons, David A. Harris and John E. Harris IV; granddaughters Carla M. Harris, Natasha J. McLeod and great grandsons Jalen A. Wright and Xavier A. Wright. She also leaves to mourn her loving nieces, nephews, cousins, grandnephews, grandnieces, god-daughters, close friends and a host of others
The family of Mrs. Carrie Lucille Perry would like to thank each and every one of you for all of the kind expressions of prayer, sympathy, love and support during this time. We are especially grateful for the efforts of John Harris, Anita Harris, David Harris, Vicki Cotton, Sharon McNeil, Father Steve, Father Bob, Minister Carol Taylor, Phyllis Washington, Samuel Boyd and James Leopold.
