A public memorial service is set for Saturday in Greensboro to honor the life of a former Miss North Carolina who recently died of cancer.
Carrie Everett, 22, who was crowned Miss North Carolina in 2024, died of stomach cancer on Easter Sunday. She was diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of the disease last July.
The memorial service for Everett began at 3:30 p.m. at World Victory Church in Greensboro.
Friends, family remember Everett’s legacy
Summer Carson is a friend of Everett’s who first met her as they prepared to compete at the Johnston County & Miss Cleveland pageant in 2023. Everett’s family lives in Washington state and Carson visited her there last year.
“As soon as we found out she had been diagnosed, I was immediately ready to get on a plane and go to Washington state because she was very important to me and I know that’s something she would have done for me,” Carson said.
Carson was unable to attend a memorial service held in Washington in April. She is looking forward to attending Saturday’s event and encourages anyone touched by Everett’s story to do the same.
“I think as many people as she impacted, I think its only fair to return that favor in the only way that we can,” Carson said.
Everett left a lasting mark not only in the pageant world but in the
lives of everyone she met, including her close friend, McKayla Young.
“Something about Carrie…she just is love and light, “ said Young. “She’s the embodiment of God’s love.”
Young, who is Miss Orange County 2026, said the friendship she
shared with Everett went far beyond titles and extended into faith,
resilience and shared experience.
“That’s my favorite thing about her,” said Young. “She always went
back to God, it didn’t matter. While she was in the hospital bed, while
she was fighting this, she would call me and say, ‘hey, I just want to
pray with you for a couple minutes.’ And I’m like, ‘pray for me?’”
Even during her battle with cancer, friends say Everett never let her light dim and would routinely put others before herself.
“She was looking out for other people,” said Young.
Young says the crown became a pathway to opportunity for Everett who wanted others to have the same chance she had.