Adell Harper

Adell Harper was born Adell Cannan August 25, 1925 in Greenville, North Carolina to Beulah Belle Carman and William Evans. Adell or Hazel, as she was affectionately called by her family, was the eldest of three girls. She was educated in the Pitt County School system and was baptized at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church at the age often. A natural-born caretaker, Hazel from an early age was fiercely independent and became a mother to her two sisters after their mother's passing in 1939. A hard worker, she went to work at the age of 14 to take care of them. Hazel met Lyman Harper, Sr. in 1955. A veteran ofWWII and the Korean War, Lyman (Duke) and Hazel were married on Feb. 15, 1957 in Greenville, North Carolina. From this union Duke and Hazel raised five children: Grenda (Louise), LaShirlle (ShirlIe), Phyllis, Debra (Debbie), and Lyman Jr. (Beanny). Duke and Hazel moved to Baltimore in 1958, where Hazel worked as a presser for Lewis Dry Cleaners until she retired in 1979. The Bible says a good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Hazel enjoyed her good fruit » through the love she was lavished with by her Children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren. Hazel was a devoted wife and loving mother, and the love she had for her family was limitless. Her entire life was dedicated to her family. Lovingly called "Mama," she kept her family close and kept tabs on them with daily calls and check-ins. Sundays were spent at Mama's house where the family ate Sunday dinner together, a tradition that the family has maintained throughout the years. Hazel was known for her generosity and caring spirit extended far beyond her family. She called her friends daily to check on them. Hazel was the type of woman who would give her last dime to someone in need, even feeding the neighborhood kids and buying them school clothes. She would often say "nothing can come in or out of a closed hand." Hazel had a good sense of humor and was quick with a saying or words of wisdom. She was kind, but she didn't mince words. She was unabashedly honest and had a quick wit. One of her favorite sayings was "I didn't take no tea for the fever." You always knew where you stood with Hazel. On September, 27 2014, our beloved Mama closed her eyes. Holding the hands of her cherished son Beanny, Mama took her last breath and was called home to God. Mama dreamed Thursday night that she was with her mother and sister, walking and laughing. Although Mama suffered from chronic pain every day for the past 35 years, on Friday, Mama told her granddaughter that she felt no pain. On her last day, God was preparing her for a new body. The aches and pains of life slipped away and God granted her a well-earned rest. Hazel was an original. God broke the mold when He created her. She was a fighter. She was a survivor. She was a teacher. She was a nurse. She was a chef. She was a seamstress. She was a comedienne and a business woman. She was a good sister and friend. She was a devoted wife. Hazel was our loving, caring matriarch. She is survived by Lyman Harper and her children: Louise (John) Green, LaShirlle Harper, Phyllis Toles, Debra Linares, Lyman Harper Jr., and step-daughter Maybeline (Van) Porter of Dayton, Ohio. She leaves behind seven grandchildren: I Darric Boyd, Katrena Toles, Michell Morton, Kenyetta (Leroy) Lewis, Bolivar Linares Jr., Yvonne Harper, and Jamal Harper. She was loved by her great-grandchildren: Darren and Sydney (Darric), Kierra and Christian (Katrena), Akil and Kannyn (Kenyetta), Taitiana and Reign (Bolivar), and Aiden and Brayden (Jamal). She is survived by her sister Bernadine Johnson of Boston, MA and predeceased by her sister Elizabeth Harris of Elizabeth City, NC. Hazel also leaves behind two nephews and a niece, as well as a host of relatives and friends.

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Adell Harper

August 25, 1925 - September 27, 2014