Birth Date: 10/24/1924
Deceased Date: 04/06/2021
Obituary
Fannye Marie Murchison Carloss was born on October 24, 1924, to George and Winnie Murchison in Erwin, North Carolina. She attended public elementary and secondary schools in Harnett County. She was raised in a Christian home under the tutelage of her mother and maternal grandfather and was a member of the Oak Grove A.M.E. Zion church.
Fannye graduated in 1947 from Fayetteville State Teachers College, now Fayetteville State University, and became an elementary school teacher in North Carolina Public Schools until she left the state to marry Robert Charles Carloss and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon relocating she taught in Arkansas Public Schools until she gave birth to her daughter Rhonda Gail Carloss Smith. She joined Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church in Little Rock where she was a member of the church choir. Fannye was also a member of the local N.A.A.C.P. branch.
In 1958 she divorced and moved with her daughter to New York City where she resided with her mother who had migrated from North Carolina in the late 1940s. She joined Salem United Methodist Church, where many of her family members were parishioners. She worked for a black-owned Harlem-based dry-cleaning establishment until she found work as a substitute teacher of preschool and school-age children. After obtaining her certificate to teach in NY State, she was hired permanently at Hope Day Nursery where she taught for over 35 years. During her tenure, she was responsible for the education and guidance of over 600 children.
Fannye was a founding member of the Day Care Employees Union, District Council 1707, A.F.S.C.M.E. where she advocated for improved wages and benefits for teachers and other employees that taught in preschool programs funded by the NYC Agency for Child Development. She served as Vice President of the Local’s and District Council’s Executive Boards until her retirement in 1992. Fannye also served as President of the NY Chapter of the Fayetteville State Alumni Association. A staunch advocate for children and families Fannye was an active member of the New York Affiliate of the National Black Child Development Institute since the 1980’s volunteering for service initiatives to benefit NYC’s children and families.
Prior to making her church home at Christ Temple Baptist Church where she was a Church Mother and faithfully attended and supported its work until she became ill in 2016, Fannye was a member of Mother Zion A.M.E. Zion Church. God bestowed many blessings upon her during her life: longevity, good health into her 80’s, a loving family, and friends. She departed this life on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at Mount Sinai-St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City. She leaves to cherish her memory: her devoted daughter Rhonda Carloss Smith, Son-in-Law David W. Smith, beloved grandchildren Ian David Smith and Kirin Giselle Smith, Great Grand Children: Imari Devin Smith, (Ian) Sumaya Takiyah Thomas, Saniya Thomas, and Ihsan Amir Thomas, (Kirin) daughter/cousin Marsha Burke, Niece, Yvette Newkirk, Nephew Mark Lane, Grandniece, Shauna Newkirk, and great grandnieces, Naomi and Noelle Newkirk, Brother-in-law, Luke Newkirk, and a host of loving cousins and friends. Fannye was predeceased by her parents, sisters Stella Lane and Yvonne Newkirk and Nephew Samuel Graham. Praise God for the Life of this Virtuous Woman!
Visitation:
Saturday, April 17
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
The Potter’ House Outreach Ministries
4900 Bunn Level Erwin Road
Erwin, NC, NC 28339
Funeral Service:
Saturday, April 17
12:00 PM
The Potter’ House Outreach Ministries
4900 Bunn Level Erwin Road
Erwin, NC, NC 28339
Interment:
Saturday, April 17
Riverside Cemetery
Erwin, NC 28339
Please visit www.rlsandersfuneralhome.net to leave online condolences.
