Obituary for Elvia Louise "Ma" Carroll
Elvia Louise Carroll symbolized love and was affectionately known as Ma. She knew what it meant to be a servant and friend to others. She loved her friends, family, neighbors, the neighbors friends, the family friends and so on. She was all about love and letting each person know that they were loved. When you met
Elvia, she made you feel like you were family. Elvia was born in the Bronx, New York, on October 14, 1955, to Irene Scott and Dennis Carey. Elvia fell asleep like Lazarus in her Brooklyn home on May 30, 2020, and awaits her invitation to awaken again by our Holy Father. Elvia began having challenges with her health after her heart attack in 2017. Although her health declined, she was determined to live life the way she wanted and that was around those she loved.
Elvia grew up with a strong foundation of understanding family and the love of God. Elvia attended public school during her formative years and graduated from a Catholic high school where she loved to tell stories about the nuns. Elvia also proudly played the role of the BIG SISTER. When she was younger, she would walk and hold hands with her best friend Janie to have her younger sister Pam sit in the makeshift cradle and swing. Elvia loved to tell stories when she went to work with her father at General Motors. She showed her sisters how she would use the CB radio and that her handle was Little Momma. Elvia was all about presentation. She was meticulous about doing her hair when she went to work and beautifying her face with Noxzema and Vaseline. When Elvia decided to cook, she was a connoisseur of franks and beans and fish on Fridays. Just ask Niecy and Janet. But she became so much better at cooking and we loved it all.
Elvia’s life was always filled with love. When her dad remarried Saundra, the family relocated to Queens, New York. This is where Elvia met the Carroll family and then married her childhood sweetheart, James Edward Carroll. Although they separated, they remained good friends while raising wonderful children.
Elvia’s life experiences evolved to the stay-at-home “Ma” that she was known for. Her enjoyment and comfort in being home gave her the opportunity to be the home-base and foundation for anyone who needed her. She would watch her grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighborhood children. Elvia enjoyed walking them to school, picking them up from school, taking them to the park with her dog Dutch and to the store. And when she had her nieces and nephews over, everyone and I mean everyone knew they were a part of her family. Elvia’s friendships were just as important as her family. When Elvia called you a friend, it was forever. Whether you were a friend or family member, Elvia didn’t have a problem telling you when you were wrong, and she didn’t have a problem telling you how proud she was of any accomplishment you made.
Elvia used her gift of staying connected to people and that intensified when she finally got her cell phone. She helped organize community and family events while making sure everyone was okay. It was another opportunity for her to be loud and proud and tell us that “If Daddy was here, he would be happy and drunk.” Elvia will always be remembered for her love and kindness. From the late night snacks with Tenaj to her long talks with Eddie, Nicole and Diya, she never let a conversation go by without saying I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.
Elvia leaves a legacy that will illuminate through her mother Saundra Carey; her children: Denise Carey, Janet Carroll, Edward Carroll, Sr. and Nicole Carroll; her grandchildren: Hadiya Speller, Tenaj Boykin, Nevaeh Blount, Amiyah Blount, Eddie Carroll Jr, Makylii Carroll, Jasiya Carroll, Justyce Carroll, Semyah Carroll, Da’Shawn Long, Lanaisia Long, Nyonie Long, Itiay Long; her brother Stephen Carey and brothers-in-love William Blackman and Steven Carroll; her sisters, Pamela Carey, Lisa Carey, Laura Carey-Blackman and Patricia Harry; a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins. Elvia is preceded by her husband James, father Dennis, mother Irene, sister Cynthia, brother Hank, aunt and nieces.
Elvia, she made you feel like you were family. Elvia was born in the Bronx, New York, on October 14, 1955, to Irene Scott and Dennis Carey. Elvia fell asleep like Lazarus in her Brooklyn home on May 30, 2020, and awaits her invitation to awaken again by our Holy Father. Elvia began having challenges with her health after her heart attack in 2017. Although her health declined, she was determined to live life the way she wanted and that was around those she loved.
Elvia grew up with a strong foundation of understanding family and the love of God. Elvia attended public school during her formative years and graduated from a Catholic high school where she loved to tell stories about the nuns. Elvia also proudly played the role of the BIG SISTER. When she was younger, she would walk and hold hands with her best friend Janie to have her younger sister Pam sit in the makeshift cradle and swing. Elvia loved to tell stories when she went to work with her father at General Motors. She showed her sisters how she would use the CB radio and that her handle was Little Momma. Elvia was all about presentation. She was meticulous about doing her hair when she went to work and beautifying her face with Noxzema and Vaseline. When Elvia decided to cook, she was a connoisseur of franks and beans and fish on Fridays. Just ask Niecy and Janet. But she became so much better at cooking and we loved it all.
Elvia’s life was always filled with love. When her dad remarried Saundra, the family relocated to Queens, New York. This is where Elvia met the Carroll family and then married her childhood sweetheart, James Edward Carroll. Although they separated, they remained good friends while raising wonderful children.
Elvia’s life experiences evolved to the stay-at-home “Ma” that she was known for. Her enjoyment and comfort in being home gave her the opportunity to be the home-base and foundation for anyone who needed her. She would watch her grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighborhood children. Elvia enjoyed walking them to school, picking them up from school, taking them to the park with her dog Dutch and to the store. And when she had her nieces and nephews over, everyone and I mean everyone knew they were a part of her family. Elvia’s friendships were just as important as her family. When Elvia called you a friend, it was forever. Whether you were a friend or family member, Elvia didn’t have a problem telling you when you were wrong, and she didn’t have a problem telling you how proud she was of any accomplishment you made.
Elvia used her gift of staying connected to people and that intensified when she finally got her cell phone. She helped organize community and family events while making sure everyone was okay. It was another opportunity for her to be loud and proud and tell us that “If Daddy was here, he would be happy and drunk.” Elvia will always be remembered for her love and kindness. From the late night snacks with Tenaj to her long talks with Eddie, Nicole and Diya, she never let a conversation go by without saying I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.
Elvia leaves a legacy that will illuminate through her mother Saundra Carey; her children: Denise Carey, Janet Carroll, Edward Carroll, Sr. and Nicole Carroll; her grandchildren: Hadiya Speller, Tenaj Boykin, Nevaeh Blount, Amiyah Blount, Eddie Carroll Jr, Makylii Carroll, Jasiya Carroll, Justyce Carroll, Semyah Carroll, Da’Shawn Long, Lanaisia Long, Nyonie Long, Itiay Long; her brother Stephen Carey and brothers-in-love William Blackman and Steven Carroll; her sisters, Pamela Carey, Lisa Carey, Laura Carey-Blackman and Patricia Harry; a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins. Elvia is preceded by her husband James, father Dennis, mother Irene, sister Cynthia, brother Hank, aunt and nieces.