Carta Caldwell Freeman

LEICESTER – Carta Caldwell Freeman, age 86, set sail and slipped quietly through the gates of Heaven on Friday, July 19, 2024, at home surrounded by her family as she wished after battling pancreatic cancer.

Carta was born on March 27, 1938, in Madison County. She was a 1957 graduate of Walnut High School in Marshall and a resident of Buncombe County most all her life. She retired with over 30 years of public service from Buncombe County Emergency Services.

Lovingly known as “Memaw”, Carta was the benefactor of many blessings in her life: her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were what she treasured most, and of course her dog. She enjoyed her flowers, birds, word finds, shopping, and wearing pearls. She was a fan of Atlanta Braves baseball and LA Lakers basketball, as well as an avid watcher of Wheel of Fortune and Gunsmoke. But she especially loved following her four granddaughters growing up and watching them play ball, rodeo and various competitions in county and state fairs, gem mining together, and so on. She was so proud of all their many accomplishments including their chosen career paths. She would often say, “Don’t let anything kill your joy.” Then came the “great” grandchildren and everyone else seemingly took a bit of a back seat. She enjoyed gospel music and was a member of Turkey Creek Baptist Church.

Until the appointed time we see each other again, left to carry on and cherish Memaw’s memory is Gene, her husband of 66 years; son, Ricky Freeman (Anne); daughters, BJ Freeman and Debra Cartwright, all of Leicester, and Janet Porter (John) of Charlotte.

Also, four adored granddaughters, Jessica Freeman of Charlotte, Shianne Gillespie (Heath) of Alexander, Kelsi Yarborough (Jorden) of Leicester, and Jenna Porter of Charlotte; and four wonderful great-grandchildren, Mason, Eli, Haisley, Carter, and welcoming a fifth in December; and her canine companion, Chloe, who never left her side.

Carta’s memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 21, 2024, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, Weaverville. Conducting the service will be Terry Davis and Clint Gorman. Pallbearers are son, Ricky Freeman; son-in-law, John Porter; grandsons-in-law, Heath Gillespie and Jorden Yarborough; Eric Cartwright, and Juan Flores. The family will greet friends from 12:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will follow at the Brick Church Cemetery in Leicester.

Flowers are welcome and appreciated. For those wishing to make a memorial in lieu of flowers, please consider the Brick Church Fund, PO Box 1626, Leicester, NC 28748 or your local animal shelter.

The family would like to thank CarePartners Hospice, Morgan White for her caregiving, and the staff at West Family Funeral Services for their kindness and guidance.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

 Condolences may be offered to the family under Carta’s obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.

“Memaw, your life a blessing. Your memory a treasure.”