About Carrie M. Knight

Carrie was born in Magnolia, Alabama in the 1930’s. She was the seventh of twelve children Carrie spent her formative years growing up in the church. Carrie received her diploma from the Mobile County Training School. While continuing to pursue her education, she met Henry L. Knight in 1951. Over a two-year period, they cultivated a close relationship. In 1953, Henry decided to move to California to live with his sister. The move to California created distance in their ability to see one another, so Henry wrote Carrie because she remained heavy on his heart. Two years later, he proposed to her, and they were married 1955.

Because of Carrie’s strong Christian values, she worked untiringly in the church all her life. As a young girl, one of the highlights of her life was serving Bishop C.H. Mason when he stayed at her mom and dad’s home in Mobile, Alabama.

Her dedication to the church and aptitude for philanthropic service continued when she moved to California and joined Greater Grace Memorial COGIC in 1955, where she sang in the choir and taught children in Sunday School. Carrie encouraged her husband, Henry, to agree to become a foster parents. Together, they lovingly fostered four children for several years and kept them until their birth parents were able to care for them again.

Carrie was a hard worker and did not view herself as a “stay-at-home-mom”. She did it her way! She was a “career woman,” and she had a special love for the business world. From 1965 -1970 Carrie managed a privately owned-prominent neighborhood pharmacy.  When the owner saw the many talents of Carrie, she asked if she would setup a designer women’s clothing store, which she did.  Carrie had an entrepreneurial spirit, and decided to start her own women’s clothing store in June of 1970 so that she could mentor women in the business and church world how to dress from head to toe. Women in the church admired her style and her clothing. Mother Mayberry who was a member of Mother L.O. Hale’s cabinet (the Southern California State Women’s Supervisor) and, a frequent shopper at her clothing store, was extremely impressed with Carrie’s talents. Mother Mayberry recommended Carrie to Mother L.O. Hale to become a District Missionary for her husband, Superintendent Mayberry. Mother Mattie Mc Glothen (the National Supervisor of Women) was visiting Mother L.O. Hale’s State convocation and asked  Carrie to meet with both Mother Hale and Mother McGlothen  to receive two appointments:  District Missionary and the National President of the Business and Professional Women’s Federation. Carrie completed the Paralegal Program at the University of West Los Angeles School of Law and became a Registered Paralegal in 1987. She studied to challenge and take the California Bar examination and continued to pursue her education in political science. She lacked three courses from obtaining a B.A. at Columbia University. One of the highest honors she received was an Honorary Doctorate of Law and Religion from St. Stephens University.

Carrie initiated the mission ministry at the Greater True Light Tabernacle Church, where see ensured the ministry not only served others in the local underserved community but also assisted those abroad, especially in the time of disaster. Through the collaboration of her non-profit organization and the church, she provided food, clothing, referrals to the YWCA, Union Rescue Mission, and legal services to those in need at no charge.

Through the efforts of other collaborations (Feed The Children, West Angeles’ Mission Department, World Vision, Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Smile of a Child, the following countries were blessed with donations of food, clothing, and other basic life essentials: Republic of Kosovo, Africa, Haiti, victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita.

Carrie served as the First Lady of Greater True Light Tabernacle Church and those within the Greater Los Angeles Community, who affectionately referred to her as the “Mayor of 55th and Vermont” utilizing her paralegal skills for the community until she passed on May 20, 2009.