Charlena Stanley

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Charlena Stanley, 75, of Raleigh, NC departed this earthly life on Sunday August 17, 2025.  Funeral Mass at 12:00 PM Friday August 22, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2811 Poole Road, Raleigh, NC 27610.  Visitation and viewing precedes the service at 11:30 AM.  Interment will be Saturday August 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 2603 Tower Hill Road, Kinston, NC 28504. 

Charlena Stanley of Raleigh, North Carolina was the second born of Charles Henry
Stanley and Druzella Cobb Stanley. She was born in Lenoir County, Kinston, NC on
September 22, 1949. She moved to Raleigh in 1970 after her mother’s death to live with
her Sister Elizabeth Ann, Brother-in-law George Ray and Niece Lisa (deceased). God
called Charlena to Heaven on Sunday, August 17, 2025. It was just five weeks and 2
days before her birthday. Charlena had a disability of Cerebral Palsy, but she had
learned enough through her parents’ loving guidance to be independent and that
“Anything is Possible with God”.
Charlena was educated in Kinston at: Our Lady of Atonement Catholic School, J H
Sampson Elementary School, Adkin Jr. High School and Adkin Senior High School. She
graduated in the class of 1968 from Adkin Senior High. Moving to Raleigh she started
working at Wake Enterprise, Inc. a nonprofit organization for adults with special needs.
After some training they help find job positions for those clients who could go out in
public to work. Charlena was lucky! She worked at Wendy’s on Wake Forest Road for
ten years. She received a certificate of recognition from Wendy’s owner David Thomas.
She was very proud of this accomplishment. Yes, she had a full active life with work and
leisure time.
Charlena joined the St. Joseph Catholic Church Family under Monsignor John
Williams. He noticed her attendance every Sunday with her sister. He prepared her and
she join the Catholic faith church family and ministries of AAMEN and Happy Hearts.
Charlena got a chance to move to the United Cerebral Pasly (UPC) Home for ladies on
Ben Loyd Drive. She lived there for more than twenty years. The directors there were
very supportive of the clients and gave them opportunities to take a summer vacation to
South of the Boarder, in Hamer, South Carolina and Disney World, in Orlanda, Florida.
What fun they had together travelling on the bus vans that had taken them to the
workshop during the fall, winter, and spring. It was fun in the sunshine. Thanks for the
wonderful, enthusiastic, strong, brave directors Barabara Dudley and Linda Bryd
Thomas during their leadership roles at the UPC Home on Ben Lloyd Drive.
Charlena had quite a few accidents/falls but bounce back each time. In 2020 it was the
worst of the falls. Her femur bone broke and one month later a broken hip bone all on
the right side. She was confined to a wheelchair but still manage to get around for five
years at Perry Creek Health Rehabilitation Center (United Healthcare). Everyone knew
her at the different Nurses Stations. Thanks for the holiday parties, sing-along activities,
bingo, tic tac toe her favorite game and annual NC Fair trips to name a few things to
brighten the client’s day. The Head Director of Nurses, the Social Worker, Doctors,
Physical/Speech Therapists, and Nurses Assistants who were very busy caring for
Charlena throughout her stay. Many applauses for their care and the calls of concern

by Ms. Tabitta and Ms. Shona. During her last two weeks here on earth Gentiva
Hospice Care gave comfort and prayers to Charlena by nurse Equiena Scott.
Charlena leaves behind her immediate family: Sister Elizabeth (Liz) Stanley Chance,
Brother-in-Law George Ray Chance, Niece Melody B. Chance, Nephew LaMark C.
Chance (Sahavit M. Chance), two Grandnieces Kiana E. Chance and Kelsey Dru
Chance, two Grandnephews LaMark C. Chance Jr. and Julian Mosely, Brother-in-law
Galvin Chance (Stephanie J. Chance). A host of family members on the Cobb/Stanley
side as well as the Duggins/Chance side to grief with the family. Three very special
adopted sisters to Charlena are Mary Curry, Joyce Hinton and Garnette Poston. They
have known her since her move to Raleigh.
Many thanks to all for your acts of kindness, prayers, messages of care and love during
our bereavement. Whatever you did to give us comfort is greatly appreciated.
The Stanely-Chance Family

Reading of the Obituary Online and Arrangements:
Haywood Funeral Home, 2415 S. Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC
Visitation 11:30 am and Funeral Mass 12:00 noon on Friday August 22, 2025 at:
St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2811 Poole Road, Raleigh, NC
 

Private Family service:
Burial at Oak Hill Memorial Park Kinston, NC
Saturday August 23, 2025 at 1:00pm

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