Alethea Jordan Wells

Alethea Bugg Jordan Wells was born in Wetumpka, Alabama on March 1, 1917. She was the eldest daughter of six children born to Elisha and Abbie Elmore Bugg. At the age of 7, Alethea and her family moved to Grand Valley, Pennsylvania where she attended school and worked. Alethea married Lewis Henry Jordan in 1938. They lived in Titusville, PA where they had five children. Her eldest daughter, Esther Caroline Bates who married Louis Bates (deceased) and has three children - Angela Caroline Bates, Melissa Bates and Louis Bates, Jr., her second daughter, Alethea Eloise Pannell is married to Odell Pannell. She has two children - Sheryl Crawford and Lewis Scott Davis. Vivianne "Vikki" Harmon (deceased), her third daughter married married David Harmon. Vikki and David Harmon had one son, David Harmon (deceased). On her 7th wedding anniversary she gave birth to twins, Marian Elaine Moore and Arland Jordan. Elaine has two sons - James Moore and Brian Moore. Alethea - affectionately called "Nana" - was the great grandmother of Lewis Davis, Jr. Amber Bates, Quincy Crawford, Sydney Davis, Gabrielle Bates, and Louis Bates, III and the God great grandmother to Brianna Harris and Anthony Harris. After thirty-two years of marriage to Lewis Jordan, Alethea became a widow in 1968. At the age of 78, Alethea married Henry Wells, 92 years old. He said he had his eye on her for over 20 years. Henry and Alethea were happily married for a number of years when she was once widowed in 1997. Alethea celebrated life and loved to travel and adventure. For years after the passing of her first husband, she traveled the country to visit family and friends. And in her spare time - bountiful with energy - she traveled the world experiencing new lands, cultures and establishing new friendships. Always active in the community and the church. Many people recognized her generous heart, compassion, respectfulness and nurturing spirit. Alethea was a member of the Order of the Eastern Stars for over 53 years and a member of the National Council of Negro Women. Alethea was considered a pillar of the community and she loved to be around people of all ages. Even in her early nineties, she independently visited several senior citizen centers on a weekly basis, to include the East County Community Center and the Ross Body Community Center in Silver Spring, MD. she always volunteered her time and was an active member of Generation I. She was a Mother of the Peoples Community Baptist Church in Silver Spring, MD and a Mother of Faith United Ministries. Alethea raised five children, cared for two husbands, traveled the world extensively in addition to serving in her community and church. She lived with her eldest daughter, Esther Bates in Silver Spring, MD for eighteen years. Esther has fond memories of her "roommate" a very spirited and energetic woman who enjoyed life and all that it offered. "Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your path great." Proverbs 3: 5-6

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Alethea Jordan Wells

March 12, 1917 - December 6, 2015