Karen Lee Wall

Karen Lee Wall was born September 1, 1957 in Paterson, NJ and she fell asleep in the arms of Jesus on September 10, 2011 in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Karen was the youngest of the two daughters born to the union of Robert Lee and Lillian Wall. She was the baby sister of Janice Wall Rivers who, all of their lives did the "sister thing" growing up laughing, fighting and loving each other and Tanya Carter who was her sister cousin. The crown jewel in Karen's life was her daughter, Ashley and her granddaughter, Madison her "Sunshine." she also had one niece, Keona Rivers and one nephew, Keyon Rivers, great nephew, Keyvon Rivers who she also loved dearly and Sharelle Campbell who she raised as a daughter. At an early age, Karen professed her belief in Jesus Christ and she joined and was baptized at the St. Paul Baptist Church of Passaic, NJ under the auspices of the late Rev. Lucius Walker. It was at St. Paul Baptist Church, where she worked and served on the Gospel Choir, she used her interior decorating skills in beautifying her church. She also did fundraisers at church and she served in many other capacities. Karen had a special relationship with her pastor Rev. McCall and his wife, Phyliss and special sisters in Christ Jesus, Diane McWilliams, Michelle Walker and Tracey Belton and she loved all of her church family. Karen graduated from School #12 and J.F. Kennedy High School in Paterson, NJ. She also graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunkswick, NJ, where she obtained a B.A. in Education/Psychology in 1979. It was at Rutgers, where she joined Swing Phi Swing and met her life long loving, devoted sister friends. Karen loved Swing Phi Swing, and her Swing sisters all over showed their love for her. Karen was a drum major in the fight and cause for Cancer as she was a Cancer survivor of ten years. She had many sisters joining her in this battle but two fought with her on the front line, Wanda Brown and Jenan "JJ" Milligan. Karen had much thanks, love and gratitude for the Cancer Center of America and all of those new friends that encouraged her when she needed it most. Computer Science was Karen's specialty skill as she was employed by I.B.M. in Piscataway, NJ and she worked as a System Engineer, Project Director, Team Leader, Associate Programmer, Payroll Deduction Process Specialist, P&O Containers, East Rutherford, NJ, Maersk Lines, Madison, NJ, EDI Business Analyst and at Panalpina Inc., Morristown, NJ. Karen was a loving and giving person and in many ways she shared and showed these affections to Tiffany Robinson and Shanyra Belfield who were like a daughter to her and a sister to Ashley. She had eight god children, Dana Appiah, Latefa Dortch, Talia Johnson, Ivory and Ebony Reilly, Cieira Hodges, Ayri Evans and Anya Evans. All of them were blessed to have Karen for a godmother because she was a wonderful and generous godparent to each one. Everyone Karen loved had a special place in her heart and in her life. Many of her friendships were life long and a part of her sisterhood was Linda Jones, Gina Johnson, Lisa Swan Henry, Phyliss Mims, Porcha and Harold Hopkins, Reatta Riley and Cheryl Roberts. Her confidantes were Donna Hudgins, Teryl Lewis, Gary Carter and Johnny Carter. Never to be forgotten was her Swing Phi Swing Family and her other close friendships were, Lee, Richard, Estee and Sam. Karen leaves to cherish her memory: her beloved daughters, Ashley Wall and Sharelle Campbell; grandchild, Madison Skye Capers of Prospect Park; her mother, Lillian Wall; one sister, Janice Wall Rivers; a nephew, Keyon Rivers; one niece, Keona Rivers of Paterson; one great nephew, Keyvon Rivers; six aunts, Delores Carter of Hartford of Conn., Camilla Wardell of Dillon of S. Carolina, Beverly McMurray, Mae Thelma Carter, Rosalie Ferguson and Rev. Doris Carter of Paterson, NJ; three uncles, Lloyd Carter, Jr. of Paterson, NJ, Henry McMurray of Paterson, NJ and Rubin Carter of Toronto, Canada; twelve first cousins, Linda, Charles, Tanya, Theodora, Rhonda, Alison, Gary, Luana, Deondre, Valerie, Antwan and Raheem; and too many other relatives and friends to mention, you know who you are. Just know that you were loved by Karen. MAY THE LIFE KAREN LIVED SPEAK FOR HER.