Carmalla Jo Coley

Carmalla Jo Coley was born on May 3, 1964, at 3:06 a.m., in Paterson, New Jersey to Franklin Coley and Josephine Garrett-Coley. In 1973, the family relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina. Carmalla attended Elementary School at School No. 6 in Paterson, NJ and Newell Elementary School in Charlotte. Her Secondary Education was Alexander Graham Middle School. Carmalla graduated from Myers Park High School in 1982. After graduation, Carmalla joined the United States Air Force, where she spent the next 21 years. A partial list of accomplishments is attached. After her retirement from the USAF, Carmalla started working for the Federal Government FEMA, in the legal department. A partial list of her FEMA experience is attached. During her military and Federal Government periods, Carmalla’s academic achievements included a Master’s Of Public Administration from Bellevue University and a Master’s Degree in Law from Cambell University as well as initial work towards her PhD. Carmalla Jo Coley departed this life on September 25, 2023, at the age of 59. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John Garrett and Callie Brown Garrett; grandparents, Isaac Coley and Elnora Coley; father-in-law, William Norwood Freeman; Uncles John Garrett and James Garrett; Aunts Joan Garrett Dixon and Juanita Garrett; her Cousins, Tomika Dawn Bell and Jake Gray. Carmalla leaves to cherish her memories her beloved husband of 31 years, William Gregory Freeman; her son, Garrett Nathan Coley-Freeman; two stepsons, William Gregory Freeman, Jr.; and Brian Anthony Freeman; her father, Franklin Coley; her mother, Josephine Garrett-Coley; her brother, Te- Ali Garrett Coley; her mother-in-law, Martha Molloy Freeman; her nieces, Tatiana Garrett Coley, Sasha Jay Garrett Coley, Nadia Ali Garrett Coley; her aunts, Janette Gray and Jacqueline Joyce Garrett; Aunts Ruby Coley and Peggy Gray Coley; her cousin, Virgil Arminio Gray; uncle, Jay C. Garrett; her god-mother, Susan Frances Wynn and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, relatives, military and FEMA friends, too numerous to list. Carmalla worked at FEMA in various capacities for nearly 20 years, the last 10 years as a member of NIMAT Blue. Completing 154 deployments in her career, Carmalla was respected across FEMA for her unmatched institutional knowledge, strong leadership skills and unwavering dedication to helping disaster survivors in a fair and equitable manner. She was considered one of FEMA’s foremost experts in Mass Care, Individual Assistance, Direct Housing missions, and more. But far beyond her professional contributions, Carmalla will be missed most for her warm personality and compassion for her family, team, agency, and disaster survivors. Carmalla has served as NIMAT Blue’s Mass Care Branch Director since 2018. During her tenure on the team, she played an important role in many of FEMA’s high-level missions including the Moore, OK tornadoes and historic Colorado floods in 2013; hurricanes Irma, Maria and Harvey in 2017; Kilauea, Hawaii Volcano and hurricanes Florence and Michael in 2018; the Puerto Rico earthquakes in 2020, the Community Vaccination Center mission in 2021; and hurricanes Fiona and Ian in 2022. She most recently deployed with the team to the Florida Emergency Operations Center for the Hurricane Idalia response. In addition to her regular job duties, Carmalla always gave back, helping mentor, coach and train the next generation of emergency managers, and was an active participant in many special initiatives. Most recently, she was a member of the Inclusive Diversity Council Cohort which received an Administrator’s Award for Diversity Management and Inclusion earlier this year. Before joining the IMAT program, Carmalla held positions as a Cadre Manager and Training Specialist and had extensive field experience, serving in several different roles. She joined the agency in 2004, as a Paralegal Specialist at FEMA HQ where she was assigned to the Office of Chief Counsel and deployed to the “Florida Four” (hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne) as a Community Relations Task Force Lead. During hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, she served as a Special Assistant to the Federal Coordinating Officer and OCC Advisor. She also supported Hurricane Sandy efforts as a Community Relations Task Force Lead assigned to Long Island, New York. Carmalla also served in the United States Air Force prior to joining FEMA. Carmalla leaves behind a strong legacy not only on NIMAT Blue, but across the agency, and the many colleagues, partners, and disaster survivors she positively impacted over the past 20 years. There are so many wonderful things to say about Carmalla. To our Beautiful Wife, Mother, Daughter and Friend, there is no one else like you. You had gifts that only you can give the world. You had blessings that others could receive from you. The Lord designed every detail of who you were. Elyown (the Most High God) He looks at you and loves you because you are His creation. Your beauty, joy, laughter, love and wisdom. You will always be special to the world. We love you, my wife, mother, daughter and friend. THE WORLD IS FULL OF FOLKS, IT’S TRUE; BUT THERE WAS ONLY ONE OF YOU.

Carmalla Jo Coley

May 3, 1964 - September 25, 2023