Mrs. Carleen Gaddy

     Carleen Scott Gaddy was born on April 8, 1939, in Robeson County, North Carolina to the late Naomie Scott and Buster Joseph Thompson.  Carleen was educated in the southern states and attended school in Robeson County.  She began her family early and married James Ophair Gaddy on May 29, 1955 in Dillon, South Carolina.  From this union were born fourteen children.  The young family moved to Philadelphia in the late 1960’s and settled in the North Philadelphia area.  Carleen was a homemaker to her young children and later worked as a Nursing Assistant at St. Joseph’s Villa Nursing Home.  After many years of service, she retired in 1992 to help her youngest daughter take care of her newborn son.  
Carleen was a life-long member of Thankful Baptist Church and joined under the late Pastor Reverend Harrison J. Trapp.  Carleen loved the Lord and introduced all of her children to Christ at an early age.  She made sure that all of her children knew The Lord’s Prayer and the 23rd Psalm and were able to recite it.  She spent her late evenings, after all of her family was asleep, reading the Bible.  She was kind to all she met and would often offer her “last” to anyone in need.  She always said, “There is always someone worse-off than you”.  Carleen had many sayings that held her family through many rough times and said, “Depend on the Lord. He will give what you need.”  Her favorite song was, “When I Go the Last Mile of the Way”.  She spent her last days at home under the care of her daughter, 
      Carleen Gaddy where they listened to on-line services at Thankful and to Reverend Alyn E. Waller’s
sermons from Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church.  She received her communion each month from her 
son, Minister James Gaddy, Jr.   
      Some of Carleen’s siblings preceded her in death: JC “James” Thompson, Albert “Buddy” 
Scott, Clarence Scott, Willie Davis Thompson, Rosa Lee Hayward, Joseph Thompson, and Betty Lee Thompson McQueen.  Her beloved son, Wayne Gaddy, preceded her in death in 1997 and sweet daughter, Brenda Gaddy, preceded her in death in 1962. 
      Carleen leaves to cherish her memory, husband, James Ophair Gaddy Sr., and her children 
Wanda Gaddy-Douglas (John), James Gaddy, Jr, Gayrain Gaddy (Linda), Alice Gaddy Patterson 
(Wayne), Naomi Gaddy Miller (Benjamin), Yvonne Gaddy Haines, Mary Gaddy Thompson (Robert), 
Marie Gaddy Hopkins (Demetrius), Carleen Gaddy Williams, Dr. Paulette Gaddy-Smalls (Kurt), 
Tracey Gaddy.  She also leaves special friends of the family, Estes Smith, Sharon Squires, and Rena Butler. From these unions came over 100 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.  She leaves to honor her memory her brother, Earnest Thompson, and sister, Mae Ruth Thompson Jones. She leaves a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, and relatives.  She will be greatly missed. 

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