Laura Emma Carraker

Laura Emma Carraker was born on April 7, 1917 in Atlanta, Georgia from the union of Edgar and Blanche Green. She was the second born of six children: Auborn, Hewitt, Alvin, Ouida, and Theodoric Green who have all greeted the Lord before her. James Carraker, her husband of 22 years, preceeded her in death in June 1971. Laura was a member of the Lord and Methodist faith at an early age. She played piano and sang in church, which inspired her to want to become a singer. Laura graduated from Washington High School, while there in her senior year she met a girl named Lena Horne, they became good friends, but after graduation they lost contact when her mother moved away. Laura and another good friend of hers, Josephine Watson started a singing duet called the Green Sisters, and did a little backup singing for Ray Charles in the early days when he was in town. Laura and husband James moved to California and became foster parents for over 15 years, which brought joy to their lives. She leaves to cherish her precious memory: her children, Michelle Jenkins and Tinee Carraker, and granddaughters: Money Browder and Tara Lewis. Laura is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.