Gerald Leon Caraway Sr.

Today we pause to celebrate the life and memory of Gerald Leon Caraway, Sr., who passed from labor to reward on Friday, December 8, 2017. He was a loving man, a faithful husband, a proud father and grandfather, and a supportive brother. The world will forever be a better place because of his years on this earth. Gerald was born to the late Stager Caraway, Sr. and Catherine Rebecca Caraway (formerly Parrott) in Washington, DC on June 11, 1941. On July 28, 1969, Gerald married the love of his life, Jean Foster Caraway. Gerald and Jean were blessed to spend 48 years together, with over 10 of those while they were both retired and could do what they wanted. Gerald relocated to South Carolina at a young age, and graduated from Mayo High School in Darlington, SC in 1959. After graduation, Gerald served in the Air Force until 1963, and returned to Washington, DC after an honorable discharge. He pursued an education, earning both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Urban Planning from the University of the District of Columbia while working full time as a police officer. Gerald went on to have a 20 year career with the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department, where he earned the nickname “Crash”, retiring in 1984. Following that, Gerald continued his passion for public service, and joined the United States Office of Personnel Management, where he remained until his retirement in 1999. Following his second retirement, Gerald and Jean relocated to Conroe, TX to be closer to their children and grandchildren. It was after his move to Texas that Gerald became an avid studier of Hebrew and Jewish customs which he enjoyed learning about for the remainder of his life. Gerald loved all kinds of music and would often be found finding and playing new music – he stayed on Spotify and iTunes. He stressed the importance of education to his children and other “children” around him. His pride in his family was bursting and Gerald spent his retirement tracking and praising his children’s and grandchildren’s professional, academic, and personal accomplishments. Gerald will be remembered for his love and commitment to his wife Jean, his generosity, his tender smoked ribs, his love of his family and friends, and his adoption of the friends of his children as more children for him to love. Gerald was preceded in death by his sisters Marian Caraway Franklin, Rosa Caraway Brooks, Verna Mae Caraway Jackson, Bernice Caraway White, and Lillian Caraway Blackburn and by his brothers Stager Caraway, Jr., and Lawrence Caraway. He is survived by his wife, Jean Caraway of Conroe, TX; three children Gerald Caraway Jr. (Felicia)of Spring, TX; Rashida Caraway Taylor (Cedricke) of Austin, TX; and Hasani Caraway of San Francisco, CA; one brother John Parrott of Glenn Dale, MD; and one sister Doris Caraway Monts of Upper Marlboro, MD; four grandchildren, Gerald Caraway III, Kennedy Caraway, Rebekah Taylor, and Destiny Taylor; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family and friends.