Vera Louise Carr

Vera Louise Carr, 88, of Providence passed away peacefully at Steere House on January 6, 2026 with the quiet dignity that characterized her journey here on earth.   On December 20, 1937 in Providence RI, the Carr Family was blessed when Vera was born to the union of the late Benjamin N. Carr, Sr.  and the late Vera Harvey Carr Wooden. Vera was the eldest of four siblings.

Vera was baptized, as an infant, at Bethel A.M.E. Church and over the years, remained supportive of the congregation.  As a young girl, growing up in Providence, Vera worked in her dad’s car parts shop.  She acquired a love for cars and was quite knowledgeable about the mechanics of automobiles.

Vera graduated from Hope High School in 1955, and began her professional career at the University of Rhode Island in 1959, as a senior clerk in the URI Memorial Union.  She advanced to fiscal clerk in 1967.  In 1970, she was promoted to assistant to the director and in 1972 assistant director.  Vera was named associate director of Finances in 1976.   Vera was instrumental in founding Uhura Sasa, an organization on URI’s Campus that is still active today.  She also volunteered her time to the Leadership Development Seminars to promote diversity, Unity, and enrichment of all people who worked and studied at URI.  Vera served as an advisor and liaison between the University staff and faculty and the black students at URI.  She was also part-time Affirmative Action Officer at URI.  Vera served on search committees created to hire personnel at URI.  After almost twenty-nine years of service to the URI Memorial Union, Vera left to accept a position as the Associate Director of the Student Union at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.

After much nudging from her brother Ben, Vera applied to and was accepted to Roger Williams University’s University Without Walls.  While employed and involved in her many volunteer organizations, she managed to excel and graduated with honors.

In 1980, the South County Business and Professional Women’s Club named Vera, “Woman of the Year”.  She was chosen in observance of the Tenth Anniversary of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women in Rhode Island.

Vera was very active in community service and was treasurer for CANE.  This organization was an educational program for minority preschoolers.  She was also active in assisting the needy in the South County area.

Vera very generously donated money to worthy social causes.  She has a personal letter signed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for her contributions to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Vera loved the ocean.  Once she began working at URI, she lived in the South County area for most of her life.  Her last home was at Greenhill Beach in Wakefield, RI.

Vera loved inviting family and friends to her home for cookouts.  Invariably, she would load her nieces and nephews in her truck for a ride to the beach.  The family looked forward to these celebrations in “The Country”.  This was the term her mother, Grandma Vera used to refer to the location of Vera’s home.

Vera was a wonderful and loyal daughter, sister, aunt and friend.  She was a confidante to many friends and colleagues who valued her wisdom and discretion. Vera was well-read and knowledgeable in many disciplines.   She was extremely generous and solicited or not, would assist her family and friends in their times of need.  Vera never married, but her Sister Carole’s children, Hank Bell and Lynne Bell were loved and treated like her own.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents, her Sister Carole Bell, Brother Ernest W. Carr and Nephew Daryl T. Carr, Stepsiblings: Leroy Wooden, Jr, Hazel Robinson, Cleo Wooden, Marie DiPina, and Thelma Freeman.

Vera leaves to cherish her memory, her loving Brother Benjamin N. Carr, Jr., devoted Sister-in-law Brenda J. Carr, dearest Friend Edith Lammers, Godson Isaiah J. Wooden, Stepbrothers:  Bradley Wooden, Harvey Wooden and Lawrence Wooden.  Stepsister:  Marva Wooden, Nephews Hank Bell (Leigh), Benjamin N. Carr, III, Gregory Carr (Jennifer), Nieces, Lynne D. Bell and Brenda C. Carr (Donnivis), and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Our Family would like to express our extreme gratitude and love to Edith Lammers for the years of companionship and loving care that she gave to Vera especially during the last twelve years of Vera’s life.  Without Edie’s selfless love and kindness, we would not have been able to provide the quality of life and level of care that we desired for “Our Louise”.

The family would also like to thank the administration, nurses, CNA’s, and other staff at Steere House Nursing Care for the compassionate and professional care that Vera received for almost 9 years.  We are most appreciative of Home Health and Hospice Care’s nursing Staff, social Workers, chaplains and volunteers who were extremely kind and considerate in their care of Vera.  The thoughtfulness and professionalism of both of these organizations provided comfort and peace in our daily journey of caregiving for our Dear Sister and Aunt.

The wake and funeral will be held at Bell Funeral Home on Saturday, January 17, 2026 from 10:00-12:00.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in memory of Vera Louise Carr to either Steere House Nursing or Hope Health and Hospice Care.