Carmen La'Treese Arroyo
November 22, 1967 ~ October 20, 2022
Marietta Southern Cremations & Funerals
Carmen La’Treese Arroyo, born in Los Angeles, California, where she had lived most of her life; passed away on October 20th, 2022. She was 54 years young.
She was born on November 22, 1967 to her parents Frankie Mae Shopher and Bobby Mosley in Los Angeles, California. She passed away in Roswell, GA lovingly surrounded by her ‘love child’ Kai, daughter-in-law Rose and loving partner Kevin. An entertaining woman who provided comfort and solace while asking for very little in return.
A self-proclaimed ‘wild-child’ growing up in the 70s and 80s, she always said how everything changed for her when she had her child. She considered motherhood to be her greatest triumph and that God put her on this earth to be a mother. Her family was her sole focus, and she worried over and took care of them until the end, sometimes to the exclusion of her own needs. Carmen was a free spirit, she believed in flexibility, ‘modifications’ and change. She valued loyalty, honesty, and authenticity. She believed that everyone needed a harmless outlet for stress, and her outlet was smoking a ‘joint’ and listening to Tupac and DMX. She loved music; all of it; everything from Michael Jackson to Stevie Nicks to Journey.
Carmen had an amazing sense of humor and a beautiful laugh! She was known for her quick wit, her infectious smile, and her kind and compassionate spirit. She made her whole family laugh with her outrageous and exaggerated facial expressions, and all her silly sayings. She was kind, and generous. She believed in autonomy and dignity and a person’s right to choose the life they want. She struggled with the concept of tough love and was fiercely independent and private. She loved her entire family and her friends, despite their quirks and dysfunction. She worried about them, rooted for them, protected them, resented them, forgave them, and always kept on loving them.
She had a tremendous amount of faith in God. She was once told by a pastor that her belief and faith in the Lord was frightening. Her trust in God never faltered or wavered once. Even in the face of her HIV Positive diagnosis at the age of 24 while pregnant, she put her and her child’s fate in God’s hands. And through God, she survived longer than any doctor claimed she would. She would say that every obstacle she overcame in her life, was through her faith in the Lord.
She will be remembered for so much. For her ability to make her loved ones laugh and her fierce loyalty to her friends and family. For her volunteer work and public speaking in HIV awareness and safe sex education. For supporting and loving her child through everything and accepting every part of them. For opening her heart and home to anyone she could even when she had nothing but herself to give. And for being her. Effortlessly and without shame or regret.
To say that her family and friends will miss her greatly is an understatement. She will be desperately missed by all those that she’s left behind. Our hearts are so broken by this unexpected loss. She was one of a kind and to be loved by her was to be truly blessed.
At her request, in her final wishes, there will be no memorial service or funeral. She wished to be remembered as a loving mother and loyal person. She wished for those who knew her best to celebrate her life, think of her fondly, have a drink and smoke a joint. And remember above all else, that she was the funny one in the family.
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Q: What will you never forget about Carmen?
A: I’m never going to forget that thanksgiving breakfast she had made for Umeko, Melanie, and I. She went above and beyond and let me tell you her food was bomb. I ain’t ever had a biscuit like hers lol I remember she was all hyped about making us food and she didn’t disappoint. I’ll also always remember her big smile and her cool dancing moves, she’d dance to anything holding her drink in her hand. She always had us laughing at gatherings when we were younger, and made sure she’d let us know that she don’t play. You’ll be very missed Carmen, we love you and watch over us now. Thank you for great memories and being in our lives. Love always, Denice.