Rita M. Carey

Dementia may have taken our loved one’s memories,

but the love she left behind remains etched in our hearts.

~@misspatticake

Rita Milrene Oliver was born on June 16, 1943, to the late Curtis Manzoa ‘Tap” and Marie Davis Oliver. She lived a full life, having lived in five states to include Arkansas, Ohio, Texas, Maryland, and Kentucky. Her warm, magnanimous spirit touched many throughout her journey. And, on October 4, 2025, she made one last trip, when she took the outstretched hand of our Lord and Savior, and moved from labor to reward.

Milrene confessed a hope in Christ at an early age, and with the guidance of her beloved brother, Deacon Nelson Utsey, was baptized at Whitest Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. In what has become a full circle moment, upon her return to Camden, she reunited with this familial congregation. Rita developed an unwavering faith under the pastorage of Reverend Micheal J. Wilson, becoming the president of the Missionary Auxiliary. Seeking an understanding, she loved to study the Bible, to lead the Missionary Ministry devotional readings and to conduct the meetings, until her health no longer allowed.

On April 15, 1963, she married her high school sweetheart, Melvin Earl Willingham, “Grady.” This couple settled in Cleveland, Ohio, and were ultimately blessed with two children, a daughter, Yolanda and a son, Melvin, Jr. Despite their everlasting friendship, their 32 year marriage ended in divorce. But love and marriage would find her yet again, in childhood friend, Donald L. Carey. In their ten years of marriage, they lived in Cleveland, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky, before returning to Camden, Arkansas to provide care for their aged mothers, the late Marie Oliver and the late Marie Carey.

Rita Willingham-Carey was an avid reader from early childhood, as she and her sisters would read 15 to twenty books they’d checked out of the Camden Public Library, weekly. She was a gifted writer, as she would often pen poems to loved ones in cards, about loved ones in her journals, and for loved ones in times of honor or memoriam. In fact, following her 1962 graduation from Lincoln High School, her love for the written word lead her to earn a Bachelors of Arts degree in English, Speech, and Drama from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), and to post graduate studies in Public Administration at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Having been a child of the segregated South and a young adult of the racially charged Civil Era of the 1960’s, she found her mission in life…educating our future leaders. In one way or another, she imparted lessons of life to many children, while teaching in Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky, and Arkansas in various capacities.

“Memommy,” to her grandchildren, “Aunt Cookie” and “Aunt Rene” to great nieces and nephews, loved and was proud of her babies! She enjoyed sharing her hobbies and interests with them. Bowling, Fashion (with her Mini-Me, Caitlyn), Decorating, Reading and Writing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Curtis and Marie Oliver; Brothers, Willie Cozell Hunter, Deacon Nelson Utsey, Doris Utsey, Evan Oliver, and James Herman Oliver; Sister, Margaret Ann Johnson.

Her memories will be cherished by, daughter, Yolanda Willingham (Tarrie) Barnes of Camden, AR; Son, Melvin Earl (DaTeya) Willingham, Jr of Baltimore, MD; Sister, Catherine (James) Bell of South Euclid, OH; Grandchildren, Christian Barnes and Caitlyn Barnes of Camden, AR, Dr. Dominic Brown, Davin Willingham, and Melvin 'Tre' Willingham of Baltimore, MD; Nieces, Shelia Utsey (Michael) Griffith of Eagle Mills, AR, Dr. Katrina (Darrell) Bell-Jordan of Skokie, IL; Nephews, James Nelson (Sandra) Utsey of Camden, AR, and Anthony (Dawn) Utsey of Hot Springs, AR; a plethora of great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. A Special Sister in Christ, Dr. Celestine ‘Tina’ Mayweather.

Submitted by the Carey Family