A Tribute to the Memory of Carol Barrett…..

My name is Gaye Morrison and I am honored that Jay and Carol’s parents , Frances and Johnny, permitted me to say a few words about my friend Carol today. I am privileged to speak on behalf of the many friends in the Spina Bifida Association of North Texas(formerly Dallas) of which Carol and the Stevensons were charter members since 1974. And after Jay & Carol were married that automatically made Jay a valued member also. Before I talk about Carol and her many contributions she had made in her life …..

Frances has written something she would like for me to read to you today.

“Carol was born November, 24, 1959 and passed away June 26, 2008. She learned to walk at age four and her biggest dream was to be able to go to school and learn to read and write. She was very involved and independent, she was in the Brownies, was a cheerleader. She attended Watson Elementary and Memorial Middle School in Garland and was a freshman at Wylie High School, she graduated in 1978 and was an Honor student. She attended Eastfield Community College for two years and was employed thirteen years in banking, Texas Commerce and Independence Bank.
She met and made many friends throughout the wheelchair community and “Turning Point” was a blessed event for her. She received the Foley’s Savvy Award in 2000 for outstanding charity work.”

If you look up the definition of a volunteer – it reads “one who offers him or herself for service” – Carol embodied that definition to the highest degree. She not only volunteered countless hours for the Spina Bifida organization, she worked tirelessly for many other non profit organizations. If you ever needed someone to handle registration for an event – Carol volunteered – she was the “Registration Queen”.

In the early 1990’s we opened an office and Carol volunteered to be our office manager and later became our web master. Only Jay knows for sure how many hours she tirelessly put in doing her job and she did it well. She touched many people’s lives doing what she loved to do. I just talked to a mom yesterday that came here and she said through tears,  “Carol gave me so much hope when my baby was born eight years ago I just had to come to pay my respects.”
 

We in this Spina Bifida chapter will always and forever be indebted to her for her many contributions to all the families and individuals born with spina bifida.
But I want to say a few words about Carol the lady. I don’t think I have ever known a person that faced so many health problems over these past fifteen years with the courage and stubborn determination that she had. And you hardly ever heard her complain.  She was amazing! She was like that energizer bunny  - she would fall down, but always seemed to get back up and keep on ticking. I admired her so much and loved her.

Frances & Johnny, thank you for raising such a gutsy, strong and determined child that grew up to be such a fine young woman with such a loving spirit.

And Jay, you have been an inspiration to us all as we have watched you love, cherish and take such good care of Carol over the years. It is a joy to see such love and devotion you both experienced.

I gave a speech this week at our national conference in Arizona that reminded me of Carol and her indomitable spirit, when I got the news of her passing. In that speech I was talking about the past, in the 60’s  and 70’s how there was an atmosphere in the medical community that spina bifida was not compatible with life. Well, Frances, aren’t we glad we didn’t buy into that philosophy? We never would have known the vibrant, brilliant young people, the wise ones who have experiences to share and the babies just rising to greet the morning sun. The human spirit is never disabled, never institutionalized and never inconsequential as we witnessed in Carol’s short, but meaningful life. 

We will miss you Carol. Rest in peace my dear friend and may God bless your family.