Lena Sears

On February 22, 2008, Lena Alberta "Bertie" Sears passed on. She was born on September 3, 1922 in the city of Spartanburg, SC to the late Albert Dillon Bates, Sr. and Eva Belle Hendrix. She attended Franklin Park High School and graduated with the Anne Arundel External High school Program in 1982. On June 12, 1948, she was married to the late Edgar Leo Sears in Baltimore, MD. She was a long-time resident of Magothy Beach in Pasadena, MD before moving to Illinois with her daughter in 2003. In 1943, Bertie began working for C&P Telephone Company. After raising a family, Bertie worked for Sears Catalog Department as an order-taker, USLife Credit as an Assistant Credit Manager, and at Anne Arundel Community College as Secretary for the Director of Physical Education. Lena retired in 1989. As a member of Grace of God Fellowship in Millersville, Maryland, Bertie truly found a Christian family and enjoyed volunteering in the kitchen. Lena was a member of the Singles group at her church and had a "heart" for other widows and single parents raising young children. Bertie enjoyed cooking, housework, knitting and caring for her family. She volunteered as Girl Scout Cookie Chairman for her daughter's troop and for a number of years was the Regional Collections Coordinator for the American Heart Association in Anne Arundel County. Music always has been and continued to be a joy and comfort for Bert. Dancing was her second love and is how she met her husband. Bertie is survived by two children, James Leo Sears (wife Carol) of Finksburg, MD, and Diana "Dee" Mayfield (husband Mark) of Jacksonville, IL; her grandchildren Michel D. Sears and Brian M. Sheets (and his father Larry Sheets). She is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews, including James H. Quinn (wife Ruth) and Sharon M. Armstrong; and other relatives and many friends. In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by two brothers, George and James; sister, Mary and infant sibling. Bertie was dearly loved and will be missed by many.