Dr. Joseph Donnell Carley, Jr.

The Life and Legacy of Dr. Joseph Donnell Carley, Jr.

"A Life Well Lived"

The Birth and Christian Life

Dr. Joseph Donnell Carley, Jr.was born on Friday, November 11, 1955 in Thomasville, Georgia. Dr. Carley was nourished, reared and supported in his formative years in the close-knit Tockwotten Community. He was the fourth of seven children born to the union of the late Joseph Eugene Carley, Sr. and Rosamond Louise "Mu-Dear" Colvin Carley. In early childhood, he was baptized at Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church by Pastor Monroe and served as an active member of the church's junior usher board and choir. In his early adolescence, his family moved its church membership to Providence Missionary Baptist Church where he served in the choir and later became a member of the trustee board. In older adulthood, Dr. Carley, along with his loving mother, "Mu-Dear" moved their church membership to First Missionary Baptist Church. There he served in the choir and on the board of trustees. As a Christian and active member in the Body of Christ, Dr. Carley candidly offered his Godly charge, which was "To God Almighty, Family, Church, and Community."

A man of God with a life filled with joy, compassion, bounty, love, kindness, care, and a love of God was picked from God's earthly garden on Sunday, November 22, 2020at Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville, Georgia, surrounded by hisloving family.

The Life of a Scholar

Dr. Carley attended Susie H. Dunlap Elementary and Douglass High Schools. In 1973, he graduated from Thomasville High School. Soon after, Dr. Carley commenced post-secondary studies at Thomas Technical School with a focus in Paramedics. Later, he earned an Associate Degree in Biology and Early Childhood Education from Birdwood Junior College (now known as Thomas University), a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Valdosta State College (now known as Valdosta State University), several national certificates in Child Care Management Services and Leadership and the widely recognized National Administrators Credential (NAC). These well-respected credentials and designations were completed through rigorous trainings offered at the University of Georgia, Albany State University, Bainbridge College and national early childhood affiliates. Later, he served as a national instructor for the National Administrator Credential (NAC) and travel often to lead the trainings After decades of national, regional and local leadership presence in early childhood management and impactful service, he earned a doctoral degree in Early Childhood Education from the esteemed New York University in 2000.

The Professional Life

Dr. Carley was a early childhood educator, administrator, educational site and project director at the Mu-Dear Child Care Center and Preparatory Preschool in Thomasville, Georgia. He was the founder and owner of the Center and Preparatory Preschool which was the first 24-hour African American owned Child Care Center in the City of Thomasville. Dr. Carley was a teacher in the Thomas County School System, Thomasville City School System, and the Bainbridge State Hospital Special Education Department. As a highly regarded early childhood education administrator, Dr. Carley served as a childcare management trainer and consultant facilitating national workshops on childcare certifications and best practices for new and established state approved childcare center administrators and staff. As an educator, Dr. Carley often expressed, "Teaching is never giving up on any child."

In service, Dr. Carley was a highly sought-after motivational speaker providing keynote addresses in churches and communities throughout the nation on topics of faith, Christian men in ministry and kidney awareness and health. He was a active advocate and ally for the National Kidney Foundation. In 2019, Dr. Carley sponsored the National Kidney Foundation awareness workshop in Thomasville, Georgia.

With over thirty-five years of servant leadership, Dr. Carley was active in the Ministry of Helps. He was a grant writer, Thomasville City Schools Board of Education member, founder of the Thomasville Traveler's Club, Thomasville City Probate Judge candidate in the 1980s and an original member of the Thomasville Mass Choir, and the Georgia Mass Choir. With the Georgia Mass Choir, he appeared in the Gospel hit movie, The Preacher's Wife, with renowned singing artist the late Whitney Houston, and actor, Denzel Washington.

The Health and Wellness Life

In 1977, Dr. Carley was diagnosed with Bright Disease, which made his kidneys shrink to the size of small plums. It was a result of a sinus infection. At this time there were no Nephrologists (kidney doctors) in Thomasville, Georgia. Further, there were only a few kidney transplant recipients in America. It was perceived that most transplant recipients were well educated and wealthy. While the perceptions were widely discussed, God's hand was upon the Carley family. Dr. Carley was placed on dialysis. As a matter of knowledge, dialysate is a fluid that is made up of water, electrolytes and salts. During dialysis, dialysate helps to clean one's blood inside the dialyzer by removing waste products and balancing electrolytes. The first dialysis machine was wooden and now, machines are made from a new cellulose-based material known as cellophane that was actually used in the packaging of food.

In December of 1979, Dr. Carley commenced his first treatment on hemodialysis in order to save his life. On May 11, 1980, Dr. Carley had his first successful kidney transplant at the University of Alabama-Birmingham's Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, under the direction and skillful hands of Dr. John Welcher and his kidney transplant team. Later, a second kidney transplant was performed May 6, 1995 at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia by Dr. John Welcher, the head of the Kidney Transplant Program and surgeon at Emory University. Dr. Carley returned to hemodialysis again in 2011. After two years, Dr. Carley received a third kidney transplant at Emory University on May 8, 2014. In reflection of the three medical blessings from God and God's chosen vessels providing the organs and medical care, Dr. Carley believed he was the oldest living transplant recipient in the State of Georgia. Dr. Carley was blessed to receive his first kidney from his loving baby brother, Eugene Carley.

Dr. Carley cherished the professional medical care received from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, MD Anderson Center in Jacksonville, Florida, and the Sixth Floor nurses and doctors at Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville, Georgia. He lived by the mantra,
"Only what you do for Christ will last."

The Legacy

Dr. Carley is survived by two loving and devoted sisters, Susan Carley and Rosamond Elaine "Pie" Pressley of Thomasville, Georgia, eldest sister, Barbara Carley of Thomasville, Georgia Gail Louise Smith of Atlanta, Georgia, and brother, Eugene Carley (Annette) of Atlanta, Georgia, and loving and devoted nephews, Tidus Demetrius Carley, Sr. (Kendra) of Leesburg, Georgia and Joseph Joshua Carley Mervin.

To cherish his loving great legacy are beloved nephews nieces and aunts: Dr. Telvis Rich of New York City, New York, Jamie Floyd of Ft. Myers, Florida, Ashley Mervin-Davis (Demetrius) of Thomasville, Georgia, Marsha Lewis of Albany, Georgia, Ulysses Smith, Jr., Acey Smith, Brandon Smith all of Atlanta, Georgia, Jeremiah Lewis of Albany, Georgia, Breonna Smith, Brandon Smith, Jr. both of Atlanta, Georgia, Tidus Carley, Jr., two aunts, Catina Harris of Detroit, Michigan, Johnnie Mae Carley of Thomasville, Georgia, along with a special God-daughter, Clarissa Mitchell of Columbus, Georgia, and a host of other family, friends, and adopted in the love of Christ sons and daughters.

Dr. Carley is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Eugene Carley, Sr. and Rosamond Louise "Mu-Dear" Colvin Carley, eldest sister, Evangelist Dr. Armogene Carley-Archer, brothers- in-law, L.C. Solomon, Ulysses Smith and David Pressley.