Carla Michelle Bryant was born April 7, 1967 in Ahoskie, NC. She departed this life on March 26, 2013 at her residence.

She attended the Paterson Public Schools system in Paterson NJ and received her B.A. in Psychology from Winston-Salem State University in 2001. Later, she went on to obtain her Master's Degree in Public Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2008.

To know Carla was to know she cared very deeply for her family. Carla loved to talk on the phone with family and friends to make sure everyone was doing well and share her goals in life. She would call her parents and brothers every week to check in on the family and to just talk about life in general. You could always rely on her to lend a shoulder or helping hand to her family members and friends.
Carla was a go-getter; she wasn't afraid to set goals and was always successful in achieving them. Her parents and family were very proud of her many accomplishments and especially her grandmother, Louise Bryant.

While obtaining her degree from Winston-Salem, she was employed with Winston-Salem Journal as a Human Resources Representative and later as a Promotions Assistant. She remained employed with the Journal from 1986-2006 when she decided to move back to New Jersey to pursue her Master's degree.

Carla's real passion was helping people. While a Fairleigh Dickinson, Carla was employed as a program coordinator with Well of Hope Drop-In Center in Paterson, NJ where she provided prevention counseling and case management to the homeless, sex workers, HIV Positive and the injecting drug population.
Upon returning to Winston-Salem, with her degree in hand, she became employed as the Director of Program Services with The Mental Health Association in Forsyth County, Inc. Anyone who talked to Carla knew she loved her job. She was very passionate about educating her family and the community about mental illness, as she has spoken to various groups and churches. Carla was a volunteer with many organizations including: Washington Park Neighborhood Association and Exchange Scan. She also received the Forsyth County Volunteer of the Year Award and the Frank Albright Volunteer of the Year Award in 2005. Carla was a role-model and mentor to her family, friends and to those she met.

Carla resided in Winston-Salem for 27 years. She was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Carla leaves to cherish her memories: Father-Willie Clark Sr., Mother-Christine Clark, Brothers: Marvin (deceased), Willie Jr., (Sherry), Maurice Sr. (Tawana), Sister: Theresa (William), Nephews: Joshua, Tydel, Maurice Jr., Neices: Imani, Ashanti, and great-neice Irelynn, her "special" auntie Thelma, as well as a host of other aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends: Eric, Charlene, Candy, Kelly, Barbara, Rhonda and Charlena and too many to be named.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm Saturday, March 30, 2013 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1075 Shalimar Dr.,Winston Salem, NC.