After an extended illness, Carrie Bell (Lee) Tarver, M.Ed., 74  entered eternal rest on May 30, 2020, at her Bainbridge Township home. She was born on July 10, 1945, in Enterprise,  Alabama, to the late Louis and Mary (Thompson) Lee. Seeking opportunities not available  in a segregated South, her family moved to Malvern, Ohio. She would often recall fond  memories of growing up in the "country," where the family of eight lived in  a two-bedroom house and had the "nicest outhouse on the block."

While exploring the woods of Malvern, Carrie was introduced to her love of plants and geology. Nicknamed "Miss Rules" by her mother, Carrie also loved school. She graduated from McKinley Senior High School in 1963 and attended college but dropped out to work  full-time at the Hoover Company. Taking a risk, she left what was considered a great job and returned to college. In 1975, Carrie graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. The University of Toledo accepted Carrie to attend medical school  However, she opted to continue to teach and raise a family. In her sixties, Carrie returned to Kent State University for graduate school. In 2010 and at 65, she earned a Master of Education degree in Community Counseling.

A pioneer, Carrie began her 35-year teaching career as the first black science teacher at McKinley Senior High School. She was an original member of the Leila Green Alliance of Black School Educators. In the early 1980s, her family moved to Houston, Texas, where   Carrie continued to teach before returning to Ohio in 1985. After 30 years of teaching chemistry, biology, genetics, and general science, she retired from Warrensville Heights High School in 2015. Throughout her tenure, she chaired the science department, coordinated science fairs, prepared students for academic competitions, and worked with local  companies to secure scholarships.

Carrie spent hours walking around her yard and painstakingly curated gardens. She was    an avid baker and enjoyed making delicious treats for those around her. Above all, the most important thing in her life was family. She especially enjoyed any opportunity to travel and visit faraway relatives. Every year, she looked forward to her favorite holiday tradition—hosting Christmas dinner for her relatives.

In addition to her parents, Carrie is preceded in death by her brother James Lee and sisters Mary Alice Kelly and Bennie Graham.

Carrie is survived by her son Bernard Tarver II and daughter Camille Tarver; sisters, Ann Lee and Catherine Richards, and a host of special nieces and nephews.

Despite illness, Carrie was full of hope and kept her keen sense of humor until the end. She believed that with hard work and perseverance, anything was possible. Her confidence was contagious, and throughout her years, she inspired students, family, and friends to always be their best.