Carol Black

Carol Black was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York to Corrine Black and Luther Small. She was affectionately called Cynthia by family and close friends who knew the story behind her name. Carol’s beautiful mother, Corrine, promised her sister-in-law, Cynthia, that her next baby girl would be named after her. After giving birth, Corrine forgot and named her baby girl Carol. She told her children to “call the baby Cynthia”, and the rest was history. Carol grew up the fifth of eleven children born to Corrine Black. She was reared in a loving household and forged an unshakable bond with her siblings and relatives. Her parents were constantly reaching out to help members of their Bedford-Stuyvesant community and Carol never forgot the example they set. Carol developed her love for God at a young age at Antioch Baptist Church in Brooklyn. That love was most evident in her budding affection for gospel music. Carol honed her gift of song at the Goodwill Pentecostal House of Prayer in Brooklyn, under the tutelage of Pastor Genelle Evans. Our dear lady was committed to education, making it a lifelong passion which began with a diploma from Bayside High School in Bayside, New York. Carol went on to pursue higher education at Borough of Manhattan Community College. Originally, she planned to enter the field of nursing, but decided she didn’t have the stomach for it. She eventually earned an Associate Degree in Accounting in 1982. Carol journeyed to California to join her mother, sisters Mary and Lisa, and brother Blookey in 1987. She settled in Salinas, where she raised her baby girl, Corrine Genelle Black. Carol joined the Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church family under the guidance of Pastor Alvin Davis. She quickly became a mainstay in the Sanctuary Choir, leading many songs including “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Unspeakable Joy”. Her voice was symphonious and helped to define the signature sound of Mt. Nebo. Always seeking to learn and grow, Carol graduated from the Leadership Salinas Valley program in 1998. After successfully putting her daughter through private school, Carol decided to return to the books, finding herself at Golden Gate University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science and Business Administration from Golden Gate in 2004. Carol was a valued member of the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital family for 24 years where she served as a medical unit assistant. She was highly committed to her career, spending time assuring that her patients were well taken care of and everything was done decently and in order. She was loved and cherished by scores of folks whom she’d helped to nurture and support throughout the span of her life. Carol mentored many young ladies in the church and offered herself as a sister for women around the community. She was an exemplary humanitarian, always willing to help the needy. Her undying love for family transcended all of this. Carol was the family’s beloved mother, daughter, sister, auntie, cousin, and friend. Her presence was the essence of beauty and the stuff of legends. Carol is survived by her daughter and granddaughter, Genelle and Aaliyah Black of Salinas, CA; sisters: Carlotta Black of Staten Island, NY; Paulette Black-Jordan, Stephanie Johnson, and Lisa Black (Jeremy) of Brooklyn, New York; and Mary Gustus of Salinas, CA; brothers: Carl and Luther Black of Brooklyn, NY; Paul Black (Anne) of Queens, NY; Whitfield Black (Kenyeta) of Long Island, NY; and Luther Small of Toronto, Canada. She leaves to cherish her memory 19 nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, many cousins, and Godsons Dvawntr’e Lattimore of Salinas, CA and Terrence Key of Monroe, NC. She was preceded in death by her parents, Luther Small and Corrine Black and brother, Joseph Christopher. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 28, 2012 1-9pm at Healey Mortuary 405 N. Sanborn Rd. Salinas, CA 93905. A Funeral Service will take place on Friday, June 29, 2012 11am at the Northminster Presbyterian Church 315 E. Alvin Drive Salinas CA 93906.