Carmen Elena Pearson's Obituary
Carmen Elena Pearson (Perez Silva) passed peacefully surrounded by her family on November 2, 2023. She was 99 years old.
Carmen was born in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela on September 27, 1924. She grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. the 11th of 14 children. She is preceded in death by her parents, Hernan Perez Carreño and Elena Silva de Perez, her siblings, her husband William Franklin Pearson (1988) a son, James “Jimmy” Pearson (2012) and a grandson, Adam Pearson (1992).
Carmen came to the United States on a scholarship at the age of 23 to the University of Tennessee Medical School where she graduated with a master’s degree in medical technology. She met her Husband Bill at the University where he was studying dentistry. They were married on December 31, 1947 at Grace-St.Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Carmen worked at John Gaston Hospital for a time where she worked on research for Sickle Cell Anemia. She supported her husband’s dental practice and both Carmen and Bill built a successful natural supplement business, that she continued to work with into her early 90’s. She was also heavily involved in philanthropic works with the city of Memphis. Carmen also served as president of the Panamerican League. She and her husband Bill coached Cuban immigrant physicians in preparing for their US medical boards. They were also involved in other international community groups where they introduced their children to the value of a multicultural education. She was an Ambassador for Tennessee Partners of the Americas, an organization founded by John F. Kennedy. The organization was partnered with Venezuela and Carmen was instrumental in organizing Venezuela as the honored country for Memphis in May in 1980. She also volunteered at St. Jude Hospital where she supported Hispanic families going through treatment with their children. She was a patron of the opera and served as President of the Opera Guild.
Carmen was well known for her sense of style and her sense of humor. She loved to host parties including in her later years with her Hispanic ladies’ club. Carmen also loved to work with arts and crafts, making Christmas ornaments (or any other holiday) for family and friends. She traveled extensively around the world, New Zealand, Belgium and Spain, were her favorites.
She leaves a legacy-her children Ana-Elena Jensen, (Robert), William Franklin Jr. “Buster” (Nancy), Carmen C. Pearson (Harold Mullins) and Maria Pearson-Niess (Christopher). 15 grandchildren, Heather Williams, Meredith Neill, Micah Jensen, Melissa Temple, William Pearson III, Ashley Cassino, Brian Pearson, Steven Pearson, Mary Elena Pearson, Matthew Pearson, Christina Biven, Stotz Thoda, Robin Thoda-Hendricks, Hunter Thoda and 23 great grandchildren and 1 great-great child.
Visitation will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Poplar Avenue on Sunday, November 12th from 1pm to 4pm. Services will be held at Church of the Holy Communion on Monday, November 13th at 11am. Mourners may arrive at 10am in the Parish Hall prior to the funeral.
A private family burial service at Memorial Park will follow the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the ALS association to help fight Lou Gehrig;s disease.
https://donate.als.org/give/287064/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=jumppage
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