Elizabeth (Maffett) Carpenter

Elizabeth Maffett Carpenter was the first of fourteen children born to Will and Johnnie Maffett on May 7, 1927. She was born into a blended family with eight older siblings who were very dear to her. Both parents preceded her in death.

Elizabeth accepted Christ at an early age, joining the Antioch Baptist Church in Wedowee, Alabama. She later joined the Seventeenth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Anniston, Alabama, where she was a faithful member of the D.C. Washington Circle #1, the J.H. Eason Gospel Choir and the deaconess board. Always involved with church fellowship meals, her delicious pound cake was always requested for fellowship gatherings. She served energetically and faithfully in all her church organizations until her failing health slowed her down.

Elizabeth’s early education was in the public schools of Randolph County, Alabama. She later moved to Anniston to live with her older sister, Willie Mae, and graduated from Cobb Avenue High School, Class of 1953. Returning that blessing, her youngest sister, Mary, came to Anniston to live with her and graduated from Cobb High School, Class of 1969. Elizabeth was truly a faithful, loving, and caring supporter for her family.

Elizabeth was married for 46 years to Robert Earl Carpenter who preceded her in death in 2001. They had one child, Vertice Ann, who was stillborn in 1955. Yet, that did not deter her loving spirit for children. She and Robert were surrogate parents for her niece, Julia Brown Phillips Watkins and for her grand-nephew, Samuel Phillips, Jr. She was also very faithful in supporting her other nieces and nephews, who loved her unconditionally. She and Robert also served as caregivers for her mother, Pearl Carpenter, his aunt, Sarah Bishop, and his sister, Jessie Cotton, living out the Christian mandate to love and care for one another.

Elizabeth admirably worked as a housekeeper, cook and nanny for the family of Dr. Staples, veterinarian, and for Attorney Charles Parks. She was a beloved part of both families always remembered by each generation.

When her health began to fail, Elizabeth was lovingly cared for by her niece, Margaret Greene and her husband, Charles. For more than two decades they shopped, cruised, and traveled significantly to many places inside and outside of the United States. They were her godchildren and family guardians sharing their home and their lives with her, in sickness and in health, giving her loving and devoted attention for a good life.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by: her husband of 46 years, Robert Carpenter; three brothers, Willie Maffett, Jr. (Tulia), Wallace Maffett, Roger Maffett (Janice); his sisters, Fannie, Willie Mae, Mertie, Daisy, Ruth, Cassie, Ilene, Minnie, Josephine, Ludella, Wilma, and Shelly Ann.

Those who lovingly cherish her memory are: her caregivers and guardians, Charles and Margaret Greene; her brothers, Jacob Maffett and Willie J Maffett (Gloria), both of Metro Atlanta, Georgia; her sisters, Janie M Etheridge, Clara M. Martin, all of Metro Atlanta, Georgia, and Mary Maffett of Sylacauga, Alabama; and a host of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, cousins and special friends, Dorothy Russell and Martha Cunningham.

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