Valerie Braxton-Carr

Valerie Janette Braxton-Carr was born on November 15, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York to the late Levi and Amber (Smith) Braxton. She was the only daughter of four children. Her parents, stepmother Lillie Braxton and eldest brother Ernest Lee Smith predeceased her in death. Valerie received her early education from the New York City public school system and later received her Associates degree in Applied Science from New York City Community College in 1979 and her Bachelors in Arts from The College of New Rochelle in 2003.

Valerie lived her entire life in New York City between Brooklyn and Queens New York. Growing up during the summers and holidays she spent a considerable amount of time in Oriental North Carolina and Saluda Virginia with her grandparents, aunts/uncles and many cousins. Valerie joined Bridge Street AME Church, Brooklyn New York at a young age where she served in many capacities including the stewardess board, usher board, Christian education committee, Girl & Boy Scout’s leader and served on many committees maintaining many relationships and lifelong bonds.

During her professional career Valerie worked with several different organizations, such as Avon, Sperry and spent many years with the School District of New York as a parent liaison until her on the job injury causing her to retire. Not one for staying still, Valerie took this retirement for all it was worth traveling with her family and close friends and attending countless talk shows and always returning home with all kinds of free stuff.

Valerie started her family in 1971 with the birth her first son LaShawn and in 1981 had her second son William. Though they knew each other for many years before making a lifelong commitment to one another, in 1987 Valerie united in marriage with William (Bill) Carr and from this union one daughter, Amber was born in 1989.

Valerie departed this life on May 17, 2022 after a long illness. She leaves to cherish her memories, sons LaShawn Braxton of Drexel Hill, PA, William Stukes of Florence SC, daughters Shalondra Carr-Randolph of Gaithersburg, MD and Amber Carr of Queens New York: four grandchildren Kayla Stukes, Nicholas Stukes, Siyana and Deannah Randolph; three brothers, Levi Braxton III, of Saluda VA, James Braxton Sr. (Linda) of Fredericksburg VA, Sister-in-law Louise Smith of Kannapolis, NC, Step-brother, Stanley Hodges (Caroline) of Dale City, VA,: three step-sisters Callie Avis Dugas of Beaumont TX, Mary Corrine Pearson (Donald) of Newark, DE, Gloria Holmes of Urbanna, VA, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and tons of life-long friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 11, 2022 in Immanuel Baptist Church, 327 Town Bridge Road, Saluda, VA where the family will receive friends from 9:00 A.M. until the time of the service. Interment will be in Immanuel Baptist Church Cemetery Annex.

Local arrangements by Faulkner Funeral Homes, Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda.