Heaven has gained another angel. Carol Thomas, born January 9, 1961, to Amado and Herodita Melendez, was the second oldest of nine siblings. Even as a young girl, Carol embraced the role of caretaker. By the age of five, she was already helping raise her younger brothers and sisters, a role that shaped her maternal gift as a nurturer and became the foundation of a life filled with love, service and compassion.

Carol’s heart belonged to children. She had a rare magnetic warmth that drew them in, her smile, her hugs and her famously comforting strawberry milk could make any child feel at home. She created “potty songs” and spoke their language, always ensuring every child felt seen, heard and loved. Her love for children was not just a trait, but a calling. Among all the young lives she touched, her one and only grandson, Diauvani, held her heart in a special way. From the moment he was born, Carol was captivated, and he became the center of her universe.

She was a devoted wife to Aundra Thomas, whom she married in 1994, and a loving mother to two daughters, Kimberly and the late Camille Boseman. Losing Camille in August 2023 was one of the greatest heartbreaks of Carol’s life, but now, we find peace in knowing they are reunited.

Carol proudly served in the US military from 1980 to 1983. She later dedicated her professional life to advocacy and service, most notably as a Community Specialist with Buncombe County Community Relations, where she was a passionate voice for the voiceless in the face of injustice. Her work changes lives, not through policy, but through her presence.

A two-time cancer survivor, Carol battled fiercely against the odds, once against the disease, and again when it returned to attack her brain. Doctors said she wouldn’t survive but Carol proved them wrong. Again and again, she showed the world that she was a fighter, a warrior, a survivor.

She now joins in eternal rest her parents, Amado and Herodita Melendez; daughter, Camille Boseman; brothers, Eric, Lee and Amado Melendez; sisters, Barbara and Diane Melendez; grandmother, Carmen Rosa; nephew, Kanajai Burton; and aunt, Olga Del Rios.

She leaves behind a legacy of love and strength through those who survive her, her husband, Aundra; daughter, Kimberly (Kevin); grandson, Diauvani; sisters, Carmen, Iris and Geraldine Melendez (Calvin); a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and the countless children she embraced as her own throughout her life.

Carol’s radiant smile, infectious laughter and gracious heart will be deeply missed. Her legacy lives on in every life she touched. While our hearts are heavy, we take comfort in knowing that her Babygirl, Camille, was waiting with open arms to welcome her home.

Funeral service will be 2:00pm Friday, October 17, 2025 in the chapel of Western Carolina Mortuary Service.