HOMEGOING CELEBRATION FOR
CAROL JEAN HALL ROUSE-KEITH

March 16,1943

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 101S. Wilmington Street Raleigh, North Carolina
Thursday, July 1, 2004 12:00 Noon
Dr. Dumas A. Harsha\v, Jr., Pastor Officiating

June 27, 2004

OBITUARY

God recognized her physical weaknesses and beckoned Carol Jean Hall Rouse-Keith to submit to His will on Sunday morning June 27, 2004, after an extended period of illness. The only child of Henry L. Hall and the late Beatrice M. Hall, Carols life journey began on March 16, 1943. In 1983, Carol met the love of her life, Edrice O. Keith, and after a loving and devoted courtship, consummated this relationship in marriage. A prior union with George Rouse, Jr., brought sheer delight into her life - George Rouse, III and Shaunte D. Rouse.

Baptized at an early age at First Baptist Church (Wilmington Street), Carol delighted in participating in Sunday School, BTU, the Junior Choir, and the Junior Usher Board. She later joined and continued her spiritual journey as a member until failing health prevented regular attendance.

Her educational experiences commenced at St. Monicas Catholic School (elementary) and continued at J.W. Ligon High School, where she played the saxophone in the school band, graduating in 1961. Carol continued her educational pursuits at North Carolina College at Durham (NCCU), earning a BS degree in Sociology (1965) and later a BA degree in Early Childhood Education (1967). She also pursued Graduate Studies at NCSU.

Carol began a thirty-year career with the Telamon Corporation in 1971 after a brief debut in public school education. At Telamon she held the following positions: Coordinator of the Emergency School Assistance Program; Director of Childcare Services; Director of Field Services Office of Economic Opportunity; Program Director, and ending her career in October 2001 as Deputy State Director.

While matriculating at NCCU, Carol was initiated into Alpha Chi Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and later affiliated with Alpha Theta Omega Chapter. She has been recognized by the sorority as a twenty-five year Silver Star member. In her present chapter she served two terms as secretary and served on various committees: Sisterly Relations, Senior

Citizens, Social, Black Family/Black Heritage, Debutante Ball Invitations. Additionally, Carol was a charter member of the Raleigh Athletic Association, founding member and officer of the Mary B. Talbert Junior Womans Club, the Board of Directors for Wake Opportunities, Inc., and

theYWCA.

.

Carol was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, a nurturer, confidante, and friend to all whom she met. She always wore a winning, captivating smile and was willing to share her blessings with others especially inviting them to many backyard celebrations/cookouts.

She leaves to cherish fond memories: her devoted husband, Edrice Keith; three loving children: Angela Hockaday (Carlton) of Garner, George Rouse, III of Mitchellville, MD (Jimmena K. Huffman - fiancee), and Shaunte D. Rouse (Derrick Massenburg - fiancee) of Raleigh; a proud father, Henry L. Hall; five grandchildren: Demetrius, Amber, Chardai, Kenley and Jordan; aunt, Irene Ragland and uncle, Tom Hall (Various); two brothers in-law, Lawrence and Tommy Keith; three sisters in-law, Gallic Leathers (Samuel) all of Raleigh, and Amanda Brown and Oma Riddick of NJ ; two special cousins, Deborah Jackson and Sarah Ann Merritt of NY; two devoted sister-friends, Ophelia Noble and Vivian Gerald; several "children" and "grandchildren" whom she informally adopted: Ronald Merritt, Monique and Quinton Thomas, Christopher, Christal and Joshua Watson, Brianna Carter, Taronda McDade and ChaQuan King, April, Josiah and Aaliyah Brown, Roderick, Sr., Connie, Roderick, Jr., and Derrick Bridges, Bernadette and James Merritt, Thomas Bennett, Jr., Darrell Crews, Kayla McCullers and a host of other relatives and friends.