Loretta Carney

Loretta was one of four children born to the union of the late Delbert and Lillie Davis of Little Rock, Arkansas. After graduating from J.C. Cooks High School, Loretta relocated to Berkeley, California where she met and married Willie Carney. From this union, two children were born: Audrey Carney-Chatmon and Erik Carney. After they married, the Carneys relocated to Oakland, California and joined the Bethel Baptist Church for four years. Loretta was very talented, possessed a beautiful voice, and played the piano. She joined and performed with the Oakland Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Calvin Simmons. Willie and Loretta relocated to Newark, California and after she found a new hair stylist, she made it known to him that she was looking for a new church home. He invited her to his church in Harvard, California. The family attended the church for a while. Although Loretta wanted to join the church, Brother Carney felt that the church was too far from their home. Loretta and the children joined the church and Brother Carney joined a church located closer to their home. Loretta was a graduate of California State University in Harvard, California. She was the class Valedictorian and earned a degree in Civil Law. She worked for Winningham, Roberts & Fama Law Firm in San Francisco, California for 24 years as a secretary for Paul Fama and as assistant office manager. After 30 years of service with the Oakland Public School District, Brother Carney retired due to disability. Loretta and Willie relocated to Spring, Texas where they joined the St. Paul Baptist Church (now known as Impact Church of the Woodlands). At Impact Church, they both served with the Usher Ministry. Loretta was founder and president of the W.M.U. (Women's Ministry). She coordinated outreach endeavors for the church with organizations such as Covenant House of Houston, Texas which serves drop-outs, runaways and homeless youths in need of a second chance with their education. With the blessing of the pastor, she and Sister DeAnna Lewis met with the administrators of Covenant House to ascertain their needs. Covenant House explained their need for coats and the annual coat drive was born. Loretta coordinated the coat drive for 12 years. Through her determination and coordination, the church collected 350-375 coats each year. The Pastor and Elders Board honored her by naming the drive The Loretta Carney Annual Coat Drive. In addition to serving as the President of the WMU, she was an adult Sunday School teacher. Sister Loretta was truly loved by many and will be dearly missed by her family and friends.She was a great mother, and a loving and caring wife. She leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Willie Carney; two children: Audrey Carney-Chatmon and Erik Carney; stepdaughter, Dalphna Carney-Butler; three grandchildren: Dannielle, Nichole and Andrea Chatmon; four step grandchildren: Deshanda (Wayne) Camball, Narshawn, Rashanda andRayshawn Butler; and two step great grandchildren: Jourdon Joshua and Bella Autry; three brothers: Wardell Davis, Tyrone McDowell, and Billy Smith; two sisters: Renita Upchurch and Carolyn Smith; many in-laws, other relatives and friends. Loretta transitioned from Earth to eternity on Friday, December 22,2017. We will surely miss her.

Loretta Carney

December 22, 2017