NEWPORT NEWS - Carleen Mabe, 94, passed away March 3, 2011.

A native of Thomasville, N.C., Carleen was preceded in death by her mother and father, Alice and Wade Welch; three sisters, Juanita Freeman, Ellradon Alford and Dorothy Turner; her only brother, Edward Welch; her first and second husband, John B. Beck and J. Van Mabe; and her son, James Lee Beck.

Carleen moved to Newport News during W.W.II and was employed at several places of business. She worked with her sister, Lola Stone, in Lola's restaurant, "The Triangle", on West Avenue for many years. Before she retired she was property manager at Deer Park Apartments. She was a member of Parkview Baptist Church for 46 years and lived the last 10 years at James River Convalescent Center where she shared a room with her only surviving sister Lola Stone. Carleen loved cooking new recipes and spending time with her family. She was a champion "Charleston" dancer in her younger years and will be greatly missed.

She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Patricia Beck Letzinger; three grandchildren, Teresa Herrick and her husband, Kirk of Yorktown, Debra Sutton and her husband, Lou of Portsmouth and Steven Letzinger and his wife, Leslie of Suffolk; four great-grandchildren, Christie Homan of Tampa, Fla., Brandon Herrick of San Diego, Calif., Kayla Jordan of Portsmouth and Grace Ann Letzinger of Suffolk; two great-great-granddaughters, Caitlin and Alyssa Homan of Tampa, Fla.; her favorite niece, Betty Graham of Newport News and several other nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, 2011, at W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. A funeral service will immediately follow at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Clarence W. Hilling officiating. Burial will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Parkview Baptist Church, 604 Hilton Boulevard, Newport News, VA 23605 or your favorite charity.

Please leave online condolences at www.wjsmithandsonfh.com. Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.

Published in Daily Press from March 6 to March 7, 2011.
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