Lee Ann (Cotton) Carswell

Mrs. Lee Ann Carswell, age 88, of Ferriday, Louisiana and formerly of the Saint Peter Community north of Graceville, Florida went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 in Ferriday, Louisiana.

She was a member of Saint Peter Missionary Baptist Church in Slocomb, Alabama.

The family hours will be from 3:00 P.M. Friday until 4:00 P.M. in the M. Sue and Rodney D. Pittman Memorial Chapel at 5441 Cooper Street, Graceville, Florida and the Public Visitation will be from 4:00P.M. until 6:00P.M. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. at the Saint Peter Missionary Baptist Church in Slocomb, Alabama.

Interment will follow in the Hinson Cemetery in Graceville, Florida under the directions of Christian Memorial Chapel of Graceville, Florida.

Lee Annie Cotton was born April 26, 1926 to Aimee (Walker) and Alfred Cotton of Jackson County, Florida. She was an inquisitive little girl, quick to lend a hand and help with any of the household chores. She completed the fourth grade of elementary school before leaving school to offer even more help with the household cooking, canning, sewing, cleaning and yard work. During her developmental years, her parents instilled in her a love for the Lord, the church, and the church community through faithful work and membership at a Shiloh Baptist Church.  

As she developed into young adulthood, a desire to travel and see the world blossomed within her. She left home for a New Jersey City. While there, she lived with relatives and worked as a waitress and cashier at a popular café and enjoyed the local baseball games on her days off. A great experience for her, however, the New Jersey city lacked the quaint, peaceful tranquility of a small town, so, she returned home.

When she returned, she met a young, honorably discharged sailor, who happened to be the catcher on a local baseball team. His name was Robert Benjamin Carswell, most people called him Bill, and on February 23, 1949, they were united in Holy Matrimony. Soon after they were married, she joined his church, Saint Peter Missionary Baptist Church. 

Their union was blessed with seven children and soon, Sister Carswell would apply her knowledge and experience of maintaining a household to her new family. She passed along her values of hard work, love of family, love of the Lord and the church community to her children as she managed her own household in support of her husband, an independent, African American farmer, in times when no bank would finance African American farmers. 

As the years passed, the children grew up, left home and farm no longer required large amounts of Sister Carswell’s time. It was then she returned to school to further her education. She attended several sessions of Adult Education Classes nightly, taught by Nettie Fisher in Madrid, Alabama.

Throughout the years, Sister Carswell continued to nurture her love of the Lord and the church by serving in any capacity she was called. Fundraising seemed to be where she excelled.  If Sister Carswell met you, she would soon ask you for a donation to the church. 

On Tuesday, February 10, 2015, 2:00 a.m., Sister Lee Annie Carswell departed this earthly life.  She was preceded in death by loving, strong, nurturing parents, Aimee and Alfred Cotton; her sister, Georgia Graham; her daughter, Robbie Sue Carswell; and her husband of 55 years and 10 days, R. B. Carswell.

She leaves to mourn four daughters: Sarah Lee of Ferriday, Louisiana, Vivian Carswell of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Debbie (husband, Kinnith) Holloway of Pleasant Grove, Utah, and Nettie Smoot of Tamarac, Florida; two sons: Robert C. Carswell of Slocomb, Alabama and Carl Carswell of Hutchinson, Minnesota; seven grandchildren: Brandon Carswell, Ashley Carswell, Benjamin Carswell, Carson Carswell, A.J. Holloway, Tammy Smoot and Alicia (husband, Dennis) Ramirez; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history 
With your bitter, twisted lies, 
You may tread me in the very dirt 
But still, like dust, I'll rise. 

Does my sassiness upset you? 
Why are you beset with gloom? 
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells 
Pumping in my living room. 

Just like moons and like suns, 
With the certainty of tides, 
Just like hopes springing high, 
Still I'll rise. 

Did you want to see me broken? 
Bowed head and lowered eyes? 
Shoulders falling down like teardrops. 
Weakened by my soulful cries. 

Does my haughtiness offend you? 
Don't you take it awful hard 
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines 
Diggin' in my own back yard. 

You may shoot me with your words, 
You may cut me with your eyes, 
You may kill me with your hatefulness, 
But still, like air, I'll rise. 

Does my sexiness upset you? 
Does it come as a surprise 
That I dance like I've got diamonds 
At the meeting of my thighs? 

Out of the huts of history's shame 
I rise 
Up from a past that's rooted in pain 
I rise 
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, 
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. 
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear 
I rise 
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear 
I rise 
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, 
I am the dream and the hope of the slave. 
I rise 
I rise 
I rise.

Maya Angelou

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