Carole Ann Veney-Booker, a member of the Gum Springs community for more than 30 years, died on Tuesday, July 22 Arlington Hospital Center. She was 68.
Booker, who was born Carole Ann Kendrick in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 19, 1939, was employed with the Federal Government for more than 15 years before retiring in 1990 as a result of her debilitating mental and physical illnesses. Carole also studied foreign languages and journalism at American University following her graduation from Asbury Park High School in 1957. An advocate for education and reading, Booker was in the process of writing an autobiography about her amazing experiences, trials and the tribulations that she encountered while living with paranoid schizophrenia and manic depression for most of her life.
Booker, who comes from a family of successful writers and authors, was preceded in death by her parents Ike and Catherine Kendrick, founders of the former prestigious, "Capitol Spotlight Newspaper" in Washington, D.C. and by her first husband, the late William Veney of Luray, Va.
This proud mother of 3 is survived by daughter Sally Booker-Waller, Director of UCM’s Sacramento Neighborhood Center in Alexandria, son William David Veney of Chestnut Hill, Mass., her eldest son Mark E. Veney, TV Engineer for WTVR TV6 in Richmond, Va., and her second husband, James L. Booker of Williamsburg, Va. She is also survived by seven grandchildren; Erikka, Evan, Kyle, Kameko, Kamyah, Aislyn Skye and Jake, two great grandchildren, Trevon and Tyree, a son in-law, Rodney Waller and a host of other relatives and dear friends