Rosemary M. Carr

August 25, 1954- January 25, 2024

With a heavy heart, the Carr family announces the passing of Rosemary Millicent Carr, affectionately known to her friends and loved ones as Taliba. In our lives, there have been few people as special as Taliba. She was someone that we felt deeply connected to. We honor the phenomenal woman, daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, and motivator that she has been.

Rosemary was a dedicated educator and activist whose tenure spanned well over 40 years in both Pasadena and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. She has served in the roles of Teacher Assistant, English teacher, Special Education Teacher, substitute teacher, and finished her career in 2017 when she retired as a counselor at LACES High School after 17 years. Rosemary championed for all students, and is best remembered as a no nonsense and firm, but compassionate advocate for students who have been historically overlooked or marginalized. She seamlessly transferred these skills into the role of a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for the County of Los Angeles and assisted children in the foster care system navigate through high school with no familal support. In her free time she served as a Admissions Reader for UCLA, and cofounder of a nonprofit which has supported youth experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. A dedicated member of the city of Pasadena, Rosemary served on the Black Alumnae Council at Mayfield Senior School, where she was one of the very first Black students to integrate the school in 1969. She also served on the Sister Cities Committee, which worked diligently to connect the pride of Pasadena to create and strengthen international relationships with Dakar, Senegal.

In 2015, Rosemary's passion for health and wellness became a top priority after she triumphed over her battle with breast cancer. She began walking annually in the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Race for a Cure and continued her treks weekly throughout Pasadena, and most recently in a multi-day hike to Sedona, Arizona. She hoped to touch the motherland, Africa and expand her list of conquered trails. In 2020 she became a community leader and began a Girls Trek club which focused on the health, nutrition and fitness of Black women in Pasadena. Her club met every Saturday for walks and hikes throughout the beautiful landscape of Pasadena. Her initiative was a personal and communal commitment to ensure people took care of their physical and mental health during and after COVID. She also became a Master Gardener in 2023 and lent her years of expertise and green thumb to community gardens and local schools.

Rosemary's favorite roles were being a devoted wife to a wonderful and loving man known as Hubert (Butch) Carr for the past 39 years and a committed mother. Together, Butch and Taliba they have enjoyed traveling, eating, gardening, and spending time with their three children: Abeni (Johnson), Clarence, and Isaiah. She was also the proud mom to her lovable dog, Bacit. More recently, Rosemary took pride and becoming the very best grandma (loving referred to as Umi) to her two granddaughters Ja'Mya and Leiyah.

Her whole being has been dedicated to the health and welfare of young people. Her dream is that all children will have love, stability and equal and equitable educational opportunities to become all they can be.

In late December she was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. We find great peace in knowing she has transitioned into a reality of no pain or sorrow. We will without a doubt feel the enormous void she has left and will mourn the loss of our role model, motivator, activist? master gardener, friend, and confidant; but we find solace in knowing she is at peace.