Lucy Carson

1931 - 2024

CARSON, Lucy

Ever since her birth in Antwerp, Belgium in July 1931, Lucy has experienced life's many contrasts - adversities and tragedies mixed with adventures, family, and love. From those experiences, she drew a rich connection to her faith and cherished her family and many friends.

Her story begins in May 1940, the time World War II began for her and her family. At eight years old, her father, her then-pregnant mother, and she left Antwerp with a few meager belongings. After a long journey, Lucy and her extended family arrived in Vicq, a small French village, where the local pastor and community donated furniture so that the family could live comfortably, at first, in a vacant house, and later, in an abandoned railroad station at the outskirts of town. While in hiding, food was always terribly scarce and the fear of being caught was always present.

The next several years were a nightmare. Safety, food and even self-identity were precious commodities. Soon after Vicq, her father was forced to leave, her mother was taken by the Gestapo, and her sister was hidden separately. Both parents later perished in concentration camps. She owed her life to the courageous farmers, homeowners, and clergy as well as a dedicated organization known as Œuvre de secours aux enfants (OSE). During the war, this organization saved more than 6,000 children.

The OSE hid her at several locations, including an orphanage in central France, an aux pair in a small village, and then a convent in Grenoble. With no connection to any of her remaining family and after several months of waiting for correspondence from the OSE, she assumed she had been forgotten by the world. Finally, though, the OSE arrived. Although she was thrilled that they came to get her, her future was far from certain. Her next stop was in the cold mountains between France and Switzerland at an orphanage called La Chaumiere. La Chaumiere housed many orphans from around France and in fact, at age 12, Lucy became one of the older leaders. Those leaders kept the younger children occupied with many games. One was to play "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Lucy was assigned the name "Joyeux", which is French for "Happy". She had earned that nickname at even this young age and during the most challenging of times.

In May 1945, World War II ended. To her joy, her five-year old sister, Betty, finally joined her at La Chaumiere. Later, the OSE brought Lucy and her sister back to Antwerp where an aunt, who herself had lost so much of her family, housed the remaining survivors of our family in the family home that was still there. Her parents and all the men in the family had perished.

After the war, she and her sister came to Atlanta to live with a relative. In 1952, she married the love of her life, Sam Carson. They were the first marriage performed by Rabbi Emanual Feldman at Congregation Beth Jacob.

Her war-time experiences and deep sense of faith drove her passion to be involved in supporting and preserving a Jewish culture and way of life. Through the years, Lucy served as the synagogue bookkeeper, managed the giftshop as well as many other volunteer activities. She enjoyed learning and she developed many lifelong friends at Congregation Beth Jacob. She was quite proud when she was awarded the "Woman of Valor" in 2010. She remained active in Hadassah, Café Europa (Holocaust Survivors), and the Beth Jacob Kiddush committee for many years.

Together, Sam and Lucy had three children. Those first few years were some of the happiest of her life. Unfortunately, tragedy was upon her once again. Both her first and third sons were born with a hereditary disease. Bennett passed away at an early age and Danny lived to the age of 37. Lucy dealt with these challenges by her strong determination, her positive support and her advocacy for her children.

While raising and caring for her children, Sam and Lucy enjoyed a wonderful life in Atlanta. They soon became members of the business community. Sam and Lucy started a successful printing company in downtown Atlanta that catered to prestigious law firms and financial services businesses in downtown Atlanta until they sold it in the 80's. Tower Printing became the only printer of record that was permitted to print briefs for the 11th Circuit Court.

Lucy was the loving wife of Sam Carson for 58 years before he passed away in 2012. Since then, she has been supported by her family as she aged in assisted living and memory care.

Lucy will be remembered for her love of family, her infectious smile and her determination to live life to its fullest.

She is survived by her son, Joe Carson and his wife, Kathryn; her two grandsons, Jared (Ashley) Carson and Josh (Hannah) Carson; and her step-granddaughter, Chelsea Karp. She has been blessed with a great-granddaughter, Eliza Rose Carson. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Alan Blass; her brother-in-law, Victor Levy; and several close cousins, Suzy Tibor, Herbert Rose and Fred (Gayle) Rose. She has many more cousins, nieces and nephews, including Jack and Sharon White, and Debbie and Bill Hatherley with whom she was especially close. Lucy always said, "Family means everything to me."

Arrangements made by Dressler's Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.