Carole Labonte

Carolyn Deloris LaBonte, an intelligent, phenomenal woman, was born July 31, 1947 in Volusia County, Florida to the late Pearl E. Thompson Baisden Smith and Herdred E. Basiden Sr. Carole, as she was fondly known, accepted Christ at a young age at her family church, St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church, where her grandfather, the late Rev. Emmons Thompson was pastor. She graduated Campbell Senior High School in 1965 with high honors and enrolled at the historic Bethune Cookman College earning a Bachelor of Art degree. While attending BCC, she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and was initiated to the Delta Alpha Chapter on December 9, 1967. Education and learning was a life-long love for Carole, so she also studied at UMASS Boston, Harvard University, Bowdoin College, Northeastern University, the University of Chicago, and most recently, Rockbridge Seminary where she was studying to become a Professor of Theological Studies. Carole made Massachusetts her home and shared her love of learning with young people as a Boston Public School Teacher for over thirty years. She taught English at Timilty Middle School, South Boston High, Snowden International School, and the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science. Teaching was her passion, so following her retirement, she became a Professor and taught English, Public Speaking and Creative Writing at Fisher College, Quinsigamond Community College and the past several years at Bunker Hill Community College. Carole touched many lives while teaching and often ran into students who remembered her and had nothing but kind words to say. To this day; she remained friends with a group of retired co-workers from South Boston High who met once a month; the Lunch Buddies! While living in Boston, Carole attended Holy Tabernacle Church where she was active on the Usher Board, sang in the choir and made life-long friendships with other parishioners. In the early 1980’s, she moved to Framigham and made Greater Framingham Community Church her church home. She was a persistent believer and worshipper in the Lord and gave of her gifts and talents in the Senior Choir, as Church Secretary, Church Council, Women’s Ministry, weekly early morning prayer on the steps of the church, Mission and Outreach and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. God called her to become a Deacon and she was Ordained in March of 1998. It was during this time that Carolyn also joined the South Middlesex Alumni Chapter of DST, where she served in various capacities alongside her sorors. Carole was passionate about the arts and supported many theatre houses which she frequented with friends and family, including the Huntington Theatre Company and the Hanover Theatre Company. Broadway in New York was one of her favorite places; seeing plays such as American Son, Cinderella, A Raisin in the Sun, and most recently she had tickets to The Bluest Eye. She was an avid reader and could rack up the points with all the words she knew while playing Scrabble and Words with Friends! Travel, fine dining (or really any dining as she loved to eat out), and shopping; particularly purchasing Coach purses and Doc Marten shoes, were some of her favorite pastimes. Carolyn was a kind, loving, generous saint who loved the Lord and leaves to cherish her memory; her daughter Yanic Vanessa Joseph and granddaughter Kaylah Imani Joseph, both of Sudbury. Two adopted daughters; her niece, Ashtraya Brown-Baisden of Orlando, Florida, and Joanna Jones of Sudbury, Ma. Six adopted grandchildren; Yasmin, Malachi, Jonas, Kelsey, Allie and Art. Carole also leaves behind her brother Herdie Baisden Jr. (Carol) of Wisconsin and her sister Brenda Basiden of Virginia. Two brothers preceded Carole in death; Carlton Baisden of Orlando, Fl and Bernard Basiden of Hollywood, Ca. Three sisters in Christ; Minister Belinda Mpaghazehe, Deacon Addie Burgan, Ms. Audrey Anderson, and a host of loving family, friends, students, sorors and church family.