On Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 5:47am, God called me home from my earthly labor to my heavenly reward.

I was born Vashti Mercedes Jenkins on November 20, 1955 to James Robert and Mary Ellen Jenkins. I was the middle child out of 10. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at an early age at St. Peters Clavers Catholic Church and later re-dedicated my life to Him in 1995 at Mt. Pisgah AME Church under the leadership of my brother, the late, Rev. Dr. Lynwood Hudson Leverette Sr.  Later, the Lord called me to serve in North Carolina and I joined St. Stephens African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Warsaw, North Carolina under the leadership of Rev. Jerry Parker.  

I attended Baltimore City Public School Systems and earned my High School Diploma from ICS Newport/Pacific High School.  I was always a social light and loved to entertain people which led me to hosting guests in various auxiliaries throughout Baltimore City such as The Post 285, The Elks Club as well as other lounges in the Sand Town/Winchester Neighborhoods.  Always eager to nurture and serve others, I transitioned to Social Work at Lutheran Hospital.  From there, I worked at The Guilford Department of Social Services as a Clerical Rceptionist tending to the needs of young mothers in the voucher distribution department.  For the next ten years, I would work at Richie’ s Cleaners as a supervisor for the East and Westside locations. 

Later in my life, God blessed me to birth and raise three beautiful daughters. You three are the reasons that I strived to excel in life.  You challenged me to be better, you encouraged me to be stronger, and I will love you forever.  Please remember to always keep God first, stick together and let the little things fall by the way side.   

I enjoyed growing up and celebrating life with my brothers and sisters and my mother before her passing.  She was my official road partner.  We all sang, laughed, danced, and enjoyed being family.  Sure there were a lot of confusion and arguments as you might have guessed growing up in a family of ten children but our parents made sure that we never held grudges with one another.  

 I will miss you all and know that I love you.  My sisters, Sheila and Perdina hold a special place in my heart.  Hold onto each other during this time.  As sisters, we share a bond that is unbreakable and unshakable.  My brothers, Barry, Jerry, Andre and Ellsworth are very special to me in that they were always our protectors.  I love you and will miss you.  You have only two sisters left so please honor and protect them.

In 1978, I met the love of my life, Cardozo P. Carlton, who would later become my husband.  We were joined in Holy Matrimony in April 1995.  We would raise and love eight children together, including special daughters, Doris, Ellen, and Bunny.  As you can imagine, throughout our marriage, we had many ups and downs but through it all, we remained committed to God, each other, and the power of prayer vowing always to stay together.  When my husband and I moved from Baltimore to North Carolina, we started The Warsaw Community Club so that we could bring together the people of the surrounding counties to laugh, dance, and socialize while getting involved in the social issues.  My husband and I were life partners.  My heart was broken when he proceeded me in death in 2015.  I missed my best friend who showed me about country living and now I am with him forever.  I left a large family of brothers and sisters to be join with another large family.  My sisters-n-love, Saundra (Ronnie) and Belinda (LaNey) and my brothers-in-love, Gaylord (Mary Ann) and Willie (Agnes).  You included me as family and I will always love you for that.  I will miss the laughs and good times.

My wonderful grandchildren, Kwante’, TreShon, Brooklyn, and Yah-Yah (Bailey) are all so beautiful to me.  I hate to leave you at this time but God needs me now.  Know that I love you with all of my being and I am expecting great things from all of you. Please be strong!

My Aunt Celia Dorsey is my last living auntie.  She stepped in and up to the plate as my mother after the passing of my own and I love you forever.

Last but not least, I want to thank my son, Aron and daughter-in-love Wanda.  You took good care of me and I appreciate you for hanging in there with me. I love you both!

I leave you all to join the love of my life my husband, Cardozo P. Carlton, my parents, James and Mary Jenkins, my sisters, Anthura and Judy, my brothers Zebedee, Harry, and Lynwood, nephews Kelvin, William Jr., Zebedee, and Jermaine.

I must now leave my beautiful daughters; Henrietta a.k.a. Dimples, Seena (Shawn), and Loleta (Buc), Aunt Celia, my sons; Cassius, Carl, Tony, Dewane, and Aron, Sisters; Sheila, Perdina, and Teresa, Brothers; Barry (Betty), Jerry (Sheila D.) Andre (MaryTweetie) and Ellsworth (Robin),  Grandchildren; Kwante’, TreShon, Brooklyn and Yah-Yah (Bailey), Sisters-in-love; Saundra (Ronnie) and Belinda (LaNey), Brothers-in-love; Gaylord(Mary Ann) and Willie (Agnes),  Nieces, Great nieces, Nephews, Great-nephews, Cousins, Great-Cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.

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