Alberta Gaither

Born Lollie Alberta Scott, she entered his life on October 21, 1926 and peacefully departed this life at home on August 23, 2012 after a long illness with Alzheimer’s disease. Fondly known as “Sugie” or “Lumpy” she acquired these nicknames from her nephew, Joseph A. Armstead, Jr. (deceased) who in his childhood called her Aunt “Sugar Lump”. At a very young age she decided she preferred “Alberta” over “Lollie” as her firs name and it became her legal name after using it for many years. Alberta was born in Sandy Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland, the fifth child of six children born to Richard Perry Bell Scott and Cora Hammond Scott. The family consisted of five girls: Rosetta, Eura, Corrine, Eleanor and Alberta; and one boy: Richard. She grew up with her four older sisters and younger brother on their parents’ farm in Sandy Spring. After the death of their parents, who died two years apart, Alberta and three of her siblings, Eura, Corrine and Richard went to live with their mother’s brother, Arbary E. Hammond and wife, Cora C. Hammond (same first name as her mother) on a small farm in Ferndale, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It wasn’t far from where her sister, Eleanor was living with other family. She was educated at Queenstown Elementary School, walking three miles to and from school every day. Graduating from there, she was off to walk a mile to catch the school bus to attend Wiley H. Bates High School in Annapolis, Maryland. Her desire was to be a secretary after graduation. Determined to succeed and having no desegregated secretarial schools that didn’t have full enrollment, she made the decision to move on. She (in her words) “escaped” the farm life. At their invitation, she went o live with her mother’s sister, Aunt Mildred and Uncle Virgil Gaither in Montclair, New Jersey. Through their generosity, support and her conviction, she was able to attend Essex County Girls Vocational and Technical School in Newark, New Jersey. There she received a certificate that “Alberta Lollie Scott” had been granted a Business School diploma. Afterward, she took the federal government’s civil service test for clerk typist and having passed, was hired by the Office of Dependency Benefits, United States Army Personnel in Newark, New Jersey. Soon after World War II, the department transferred to Missouri and she did not want to move so far away from her family and friends. She was able to obtain employment at the Internal Revenue Service, Washington, D.C. in the same position she held in New Jersey. She had to get a work permit because of the war and became the firs African American to achieve this honor. She was happy because this allowed her to be close to her sisters, Rosetta and Eura who were also working in Washington, D.C. and could give her the support she needed. The secretarial position later turned into “office head” and then she was later promoted to administrative assistant. She received many monetary awards and certificates for her outstanding work performance. Until she retired, as administrative assistant to a division director, Alberta commuted by train to her job. During her train commute she played pinochle with her co-workers/friends who fondly called her “Scotty”. With a strong faith and love of God, Alberta always attended church, no mater where she was living. When she first moved to Ferndale, she worshiped with many of her family at John Wesley United Methodist Church, Glen Burnie, Maryland. After moving to New Jersey, she attended and became a member of Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church in Montclair. When she moved back to Ferndale, she and her sister, Eura attended service every Sunday at John Wesley United Methodist Church, and she transferred her membership there. She served on the Usher Board for more than fifty years. On June 28, 1952, Alberta was united in Holy Matrimony to Donald G. Gaither, who is now a Past Worshipful Master, 33rd Degree Mason (William F. Taylor Lodge No. 57 F&AM, PHA). They had one daughter, Donna Renee Gaither. Hey lived in Baltimore City all of their married life on Calverton Heights Avenue, moving to West Mosher Street in later years. Their daughter and son-in-law, Larry Jeter are also life long residents of Baltimore City. Her passion, even until her final days, was her membership with the Fraternal Orders of the Eastern Star. She became a member of Eureka Chapter No. 11, Order of the Eastern Star (O.E.S.) in 1973. She is a Worthy Matron, having served as Matron from 1983-1984. She held every position in the chapter, including Chairperson of the Pride, Ways and Means Committee, Chairperson of the Worthy Matron Special Activity and Chairperson of the By-laws Committee. She also served as Chaplain of the Chapter for many years. She was also a member of several other fraternal houses. She joined Queen Esther Assembly No. 1, Order of the Golden Circle in 1974. She is a Past Most Ancient Matron of Emmanuel Court No. 4, Heroines of Jericho. After serving as Grand Secretary of Rehab Court for twelve years, she received Post Most Ancient Grand Matron’s Honors in 1993. She was a member of Jerusalem Court No. 1, Daughters of Isis where she served as treasurer for eight years. She was active in Myra Grand Chapter, serving on close to twenty committees between 1976 and 2007. Members of any of her fraternal houses that sat and talked with Alberta for more than a minute knew they were in for an education and history lesson. She had a keen mind about facts from the past and was considered an expert in proper protocols and procedures. Having a great love of family, friends and a strong belief that it is important to give of yourself, Alberta was very active in giving of her time and assistance to senior members of her fraternity houses, individuals, the community, churches and organizations. She was known for her home made desserts (who can forget her infamous chocolate chip cookies) and often donated her desserts to churches and other civic organizations for their fundraisers. She was very creative, loved crocheting, other craft activities and making decorative items for family, organizational and church events. She loved cooking, often hosting family holidays and get togethers. She was also an avid reader. In addition to her membership in the fraternal orders she was also a proud, active member of the Wiley H. Bates High School Alumni Association. She loved reminiscing about her bobby socks and loafer days at Bates High School, how they traveled by school bus from Ferndale to Annapolis and that most of the teachers commuted from Washington D.C. She believed that it is in giving that you receive, the secret of true service is to be faithful wherever God places you. Her message to the younger generation was to stay in school, work hard for your community and you will be successful in life. She strongly believed that what gives beauty to and meaning to life is our capacity for giving to others, our ability to experience joy and to share it with those around us. Her favorite flower was the red rose. Her favorite Bible verse was John 14:15-28 and her favorite hymn was “My Hope is Built”. She was precede in death by her parents; sisters Rosetta Scott Williams, Corrine Scott Rooks, Eleanor Scott Armstead; and brother, Richard Scott who died as a young age. She is survived by her devoted husband of sixty years, Donald G. Gaither; her daughter, Donna R. Gaither; her sister, Eura S. Howard and brother-in-law, Joseph Howard; sister-in-law, LaVerne Fair; niece (her goddaughter), Paula F. Rooks; nephew, Sterling “Pete” Bailey, Jr.; son-in-law, Larry J. Jeter; caretaker and friend, Deborah Owens; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Alberta Gaither

October 21, 1926 - August 23, 2012