"Mama love you. And bye"

Barbara Lee Hawkins Carvana, 83, went to her new heavenly home with a big smile on April 5, 2018 at Forsyth Medical Center. Mrs. Carvana was born in Winston-Salem, NC on May 26, 1934 to the late John Simpson Hawkins and Lucy Marie Hawkins. Her sister Corrine Elizabeth Hairston and two brothers, Donald Ledell Hawkins and Joseph Louis Hawkins, preceded her in death. She was the devoted wife of Reverend Lawrence Paul Carvana, Sr. for almost 60 years, a loving mother to her nine children and adored grandmother and great-grandmother to 23.

"Grow in grace"

As a child, Mrs. Carvana attended Union Baptist Church and accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. Her family lived off Trade Street in her beloved Pond community. She attended Atkins High School where she excelled in all her classes, and was the first woman in her family to graduate high school. She lived for a time in Greenwich Village, NYC and worked for the Eastman Kodak company before returning home to care for her ailing mother.  She could stretch a dollar around the world. She used her shrewd business sense and creative abilities to turn her humble blue house in Pfafftown, N.C. into an elegant haven for her family. Whether giving a word from the Lord over the phone or an amazing slice of pound cake at her table, Mrs. Carvana was known for her laughter, wit and generous spirit. Her family and friends looked forward to Thanksgivings at Grandma's House where her table was loaded with "best in the whole world" food, laughter, sage advice and always room for one more.

"Trust the Lord"

Called affectionately "Sister Carvana" or "Mama Carvana" by her church family at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, she taught Women's Sunday School for over 40 years, worked passionately on the Missions Board, started the food bank, held clothing drives and had a sincere heart for those in need inside and outside her church. She was a loyal supporter of various charities including The Southwest Indian Children's Fund, Lott Cary Foundation, and The American Bible Society.  When she read about the violence against children in her old neighborhood of Kimberly Park, she put her Christian faith in action. Along with her life-long friend, Delores "Blinky" Scales, she started the "Jesus Is Our Hero" Children's Hour at the neighborhood community center with no money or official support. She told a reporter from The Winston-Salem Journal, "I thought I'd get a grill and some hot dogs and set up under a tree. I figured I could teach the kids the Bible. I could hug them". And that's just what Mrs. Carvana did. Through the years, her program gave hope, changed lives and was recognized by the city of Winston-Salem with an official Resolution.  Her faith, strength, joy, and unconditional love lives on.

"Love one another"

Cherishing her memory are: her devoted husband,  Reverend Lawrence Paul Carvana, Sr., her nine adoring children and 23 grandchildren & great grandchildren:  Leander Franklin Baltimore (Mariana)- Kimberly Baltimore Mathews (Kevin) Jenae, Kevin Jr. and Katalina, Marina Araujo (Simon) Simon and Giovanna Nascimento; Barbara Marie Carvana-Moore (Stanton)- Neriah; Lawrence Paul Carvana, Jr. (Joyvon)- Terrell – Christian, Treavor, Lauryn and Kortney; Angelo Ledell Carvana (Tonia)- Angel and Noel; Andre Leonard Carvana; Kelvin LaMonte Carvana- Lawrence and Joseph; Martino Wayne Carvana, Sr. (Cynthia) Marissa, Martino Jr., Angelina and Samuel; Timothy Pierre Carvana (Valerie) Mayleigh and Danica; Carlos Jevon Carvana; Daughters-in-love: Nittaya Teepueng Baltimore, Gina Carvana and Turquoise Erving; and loving nieces,  nephews, relatives and friends.

"Well done thy good and faithful servant"

Funeral services will be held at 12:00noon Saturday, April 14, 2018 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 12:00noon on Saturday at the Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Southwest Indian Children's Fund or the American Bible Society.