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In memory of

Gay A Caroline

Riverside, CA, USA

October 27, 1917 - June 5, 2021

Oct 27, 1917 - Jun 5, 2021

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On June 5th, 2021, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and family matriarch Gay Anita Caroline of Riverside, CA, passed away peacefully at the prime young age of 103. Gay was born to Stanley Young Beverley and Anna Elliott Beverley in Riverside on October 27th, 1917.
Gay was baptized in the Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church at the age of 7, and has been a lifelong member, serving as church pianist, general program chairman and director of Vacation Bible School. Early in her life Gay joined the United Services Organization (USO), serving first locally in CA, and following WWII was sent to Japan and the Philippines to continue to support service members and their families during the occupation. After returning to the US, Gay worked as a senior recreation leader for the City of Oakland and Lincoln Park in Riverside, eventually rising to Lincoln Park Director.
Gay continued her mother and grandmother’s lifetime tradition of participating in the civil rights demonstrations of her era. She was active in community politics and was a member of the committee that helped elect the first minority candidate to the Riverside City Council in the 60s, and was one of four delegates selected to represent Riverside County at the 1965 inauguration of President Lyndon Johnson in Washington, D.C. In 1973, she was appointed director of the NAACP Head Start State Preschool Program in Riverside, administering that program for 16 years.
Gay continued to care for her extended family throughout her life by providing love, guidance, personal attention…whatever was needed. She was wise, exceedingly kind, funny and inclusive. Gay’s greatest wish was that her family members would accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Gay was preceded in death by the love of her life, her spouse Etienne C. Caroline Jr.; her daughter, Leslie ‘Tina’ Caroline; her parents, Stanley and Anna Beverley, and her brothers, Stanley Y., William E, Frank M., and Robert P. She leaves to mourn her son, Etienne C. Caroline III her grandson, Etienne C. Caroline IV, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 11: am on Saturday 7 August, 2021 at the Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church in Riverside. Interment will be private.
In Lieu of flowers, the family ask that you consider donations to the Riverside Chapter of the NAACP, Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery, Center of the Riverside Art Museum in Gay Caroline’s name.

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