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Swampland People: Carethia Brown
Ever since I began profiling people I meet for Swampland I’ve had my eye out for Carethia Brown, only I didn’t know her name until today.
Many people around Elizabeth City have seen Carethia and her eternal smile. And many of you have run afoul of her while parking illegally, or perhaps too long in one spot.
Carethia is the Elizabeth City Parking Enforcement Officer who frequents the waterfront parking areas and can be seen morning and afternoon crossing children at Sheep Harney Elementary School.
“It’s not about writing tickets,” Carethia says of her job. “It’s all about the people.”
Carethia Brown is hands down one of the friendliest people I’ve ever seen. For the three years I have been here, in Elizabeth City, Carethia has never once failed to wave at me, offer up a smile and a hello.
“I love people and I love being friendly,” says the Lexington, N.C. native.
Carethia has been on the job for 14 years, as long as she’s lived in the area. She and her husband moved here to be close to his job in Virginia. When he retired, however, they had the option of moving back to Lexington, but Carethia says she wanted to stay.
“I wanted to stay because I like it here,” she says, smiling large.
Carethia can also be seen at Mariner’s Wharf keeping tabs on the boats that come in and out as they travel the Intercoastal Waterway. Another aspect of her job that she loves because, she emphasizes, she just loves people.
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