Mela Demetris Carpenter, 69, was unexpectedly welcomed home on July 28, 2021, due to multiple medical concerns with family by her side.  Mela was born September 12, 1951 in Winston-Salem, NC to Burnell Smith-Clayburn (deceased) and Theodore Willie Carpenter Jr. (deceased).

Mela graduated from Carver High School in 1967, and worked in multiple fields throughout her life.  However, her primary employment was as a Nursing Assistant for Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Charter Behavioral Health.

Her passion included her beloved family: son, JeVon (Jayra) Carpenter and daughter, Tonya (Talmadge) Carpenter II, Chrishaunna Burnes, Malik Carpenter, Jaelin Carpenter, Jayshaen Carpenter, Chancellor Carpenter, Marcos Carpenter, Karrington Carpenter, and Andre Douglass; great grandchildren, Jurney Carpenter, Kennedy Burnes and Cana Carpenter; sisters, Nadine Carpenter (deceased), Fleather Carpenter, Debbie Carpenter,Rosetta Carpenter and Gloria Carpenter; brothers, Lonnie Carpenter Jr., Carlton Carpenter, Theodore Willie Carpenter III and Marvin Carpenter (deceased).

A service of memory will be held 1pm Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021 in Hooper Funeral Home chapel.