Carlie Streat

On Monday, November 16, 2020, CARLIE STREAT quietly and peacefully transitioned to be in the presence of the Lord. Son of the late Charlie and Wilma Streat, he was born January 15, 1932, in Meherrin, Virginia. After attending Levi Elementary School and Robert R. Moton School in Virginia, he later graduated from Dunbar High School in Baltimore, Maryland.

After high school, Carlie joined the United States Air Force, where he served for five years as a senior cook and was awarded the following honors; the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the national Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct medal. After an honorable discharge from the military, Carlie worked at Bethlehem Steel, retiring after over fifty years of service.

Carlie's religious journey began at an early age when his parents insisted he and his siblings join the Junior Usher Board at Faith Baptist Church. He along with his brothers Roy and Arthur, also taught Children's Sunday School. Years later his own family would attend Southern Baptist Church, located at the time on North Bond Street. Subsequently, when his family moved to Edmondson Village, they joined the Friendship Baptist Church before finally joining the Pleasant Zion Baptist Church under the pastoate of Rev. James Gray. There he served as chairman of the Deacon Boad and as a member of several ministries. He was the backbone to the church he loved. Rev. James Gray's "Ride or Die", he was willing to co-sign for a mortgage so that the church could have a permanent location and structure. However, after his retirement, he returned to Meherrin, Virginia, where he worshpped at the Levi Baptist Church for more than twenty years. Yet, once again Carlie found his way back to Baltimore, where, because of his illness, he could be better cared for by his family.

As we celebrate Carlie's home-going, we reflect on a life of memories. As a parent, he was a stern discriplinarian, brought  on by his military training. He insisted on order and believed in the old adage of "sparing  the rod and spoiing the child". The "General" believed in corporal punishment. Once they were grown, however, he became a best friend to his children. Carlie loved dancing, joking around and having fun, especialy with his brothers, uncle Roy and uncle Arthur, and his sisters, aunt Flossie, aunt Mae, aunt Marguerite, aunt Bea, and their husbands. His pride and joy, too were his automobiles, which he kept waxed and shined. Jokingly he would often say the rain would roll of his car before the raindrops would even hit his car. Carlie loved life and the life he lived worshipping God at any church. He truly enjoyed his family and his friends..Homecoming, was the best for him.

Preceding Carlie in life besides his parents are his daughter, Debbie Streat Griffin; his siblings, Roy, Arthur, and Flossie; grandsons, Walter and Owen.

Carlie leaves to mourn: his children, Carlette, Dennis, Denise and Stevie; two adopted daughters, Brenda Williams and Joan Lee; four stepchildren, Thomas and Thelma Scott, Joann and Debra; seven sisters-in-law, Mae, Marquerite, Beverley, Ruth, Martha, Margaret and Christine; three brothers-in-law, Jerry Branch, James Peaks and Charles Ingram; grandchildren, Christopher and Nicole Lee, Shanell, Devin Tyus, and Antwon Streat Sr.,;great grandchildren, Niambi, Kirsten, Chloe, Kelsey, Chrissy, Hunter, Hudson, Antwon Jr., Damien and Anthony; god son, Aljarian "Gee" Nelson; a special friend in the Lord, Gayle Briscoe; caretakers, Bendrick "Ben" Fleming, Latasha Peaks and Sylvia "Cookie"; and a host of other relatives and friends.