April 8, 2021, 40, Pikeville –

On April 8, 2021 Karmel went home to be with our beloved Lord.

A visitation will be held Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 9:30 until 11 a.m. at Howell Funeral Home & Crematory in Goldsboro. Those in attendance, are asked to please wear a face covering and practice social distancing.

Karmel was born on December 4, 1980. Karmel graduated from Chilometri High School in Missouri. Her passion when she graduated from high school was to be a nurse. She worked in several nursing homes as a CNA, then went on to get her CPN after being an LPN for several years. She continued on and got her RN where she worked at Wayne UNC Hospital.

Karmel loved to shop at Michaels & JoAnn’s. She loved her plants. On July 9, 2015, she married the love her life, Jessie D. “Rico” Taft Jr. In this union they shared six children, Akadin Phillips of Pikeville, Maia Phillips of Pikeville, Tyrie Phillips of Montana, Jay Taft of Kinston, Mia Taft of Kinston and Joel Taft of Kinston; one beloved dog named, Misfit, which she loved dearly.

She is survived by her husband, Jessie D. “Rico” Taft Jr., her children, her parents, Randy Burford of Clinton, Missouri and Judy Burford of Warrensburg, Missouri; her sister, Jennifer Hollander and husband, David of Warrensburg, Missouri and five nephews.

Karmel was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents.

The family is in the care of Howell Funeral Home & Crematory in Goldsboro.