Obituary of Carman Douglas

Carmen Viola Douglas (aka PET) was born on April 19, 1922 in Panama, Republic of Panama. She was the fourth of six children, Her late brothers; Ruben, Simeon, Claud, Fecedio and her Sister Clementina born to the late Nehemiah and Lorretta Douglas. She grew up in a town called Red Tank, on Panama Canal Zone, and attended and graduated from the Canal Zone educational system. Upon Graduation, she became an apprentice seamstress, under Mrs. Wason; throughout her life she worked at this trade and became a master seamstress. Carmen wedded Erick E. Weekes in 1946 and relocated to a neighborhood called El Marañón in Panama City. They later moved to San Miguel, also in Panama City. This union produced four children; the late Jorge; Sandra, Diana & Erick. With the help of her brothers, Simeon & Fecedio in 1962 PET migrated to the USA in order to provide a better life for herself and her children. She was able to do so by using her great talent as a master seamstress to get a job in the garment district in NYC. After working for two years, she began to bring her children to New York, two at a time and over the course of five years, all her children had migrated to the USA. PET was always a hard worker, not only did she work a full day at her job, but most times she came home to sew for her private clientele. PET was a devout Christian, not only in words but in deeds as well. She raised her children in the admonition of the Lord. She gave of herself constantly to the needy without ever being asked. She would see a need and try to help in whatever way she was able to; for example, she visited her brother in Panama many years ago, after seeing his living conditions, she decided to help by sending for one of his children. Considering that she never had much, she was such a blessing to many. PET attended Upper Room Church for many years and used her skill as a master seamstress to make many of the costumes used for their cantatas. She was also a faithful greeter, even when she was too weak to stand, she would sit and greet the congregation, as they came in and left the service. The joys of her life were her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephew. She would never consider moving away, she loved being close to them all. In return, she was loved by all of them. Left to mourn her are her children; Sandra Wenner, Diana Davis & Erick Weekes, her Sister Clementina Wareham, Daughter-in-laws Raquel Weekes & Marcia Weekes, Son-in-laws Edmund Davis & Roy Wenner, grandchildren, Ivon, Jorge, Paul, Kenneth, Keith, Derrick, Ericka, Sean, Ariana and Lorretta, Great-Grandchildren; Vernon, Akilah, Christopher, Grace, Madison, Heaven, Erick & Honesty, and host of nieces, nephews and friends.