Alice Rawles Sedka

Alice Rawles Sedka, daughter of the late Douglas and Mary Etta Rawles, was born in Northampton County, North Carolina on August 29, 1910. She departed this life on October 25, 2001, leaving behind a rich legacy of love and human kindness. Alice received her early education in the Northampton County public school system. Seeking better employment opportunities to help support her widowed mother and younger siblings, Alice left home bound for New York City when she was still a very young adult. There she met and married Tawfeek (“Pop”) Sedka. The couple relocated to Baltimore, Maryland in search of a quieter life. They settled in a small community called Fairfield.Alice and Tawfeek loved children. In addition to raising their daughter Gladys (now deceased), they provided a nurturing home for eleven other beloved young ones. Alice worked hard at meeting the needs of her family. She was an extraordinary wife, mother and friend. She was always patient, kind and supportive. To know her was to love her. Over the years, family and friends showered her with an abundance of affectionate nicknames: “Bunk,” “Duckie,” “Grandma,” “Gram,” and of course “Mother.” Sundays were always a particularly joyous time in Alice’s household. Her Sabbath ritual of baking fresh bread always began on Saturday afternoon when she would knead the dough for her famous homemade rolls. After church, family and friends would flock to her house for dinner and fellowship. Alice’s belief in God was genuine and dear to her spirit, and she practiced what she preached. Through her many good works, she shared her faith. She taught by example. Her compassion, wisdom, and love of family taught her children to be close to one another, and that God and a close family were their most prized possessions from which they could draw strength and support. Alice Rawles Sedka was the matriarch of a large and very extended family. Her thoughtfulness and loving ways encouraged harmony amongst them, bolstered their spirits in times of trouble, and made their joy richer with every passing year. She leaves to cherish her memory Dianne Hogan, the granddaughter that she raised; her devoted sister, Patricia Blackman; her children, Eula Gray, Pecolia Blackwell, Percy Underdue, Terah Parson, Sylvia Jordan Brenda Cooper-Milligan, Carolyn Montague, Vincent Jackson, Jr., Wilbert George (deceased) and Janie Lee. Her legacy of love and Christian faithfulness will also be forever cherished by her devoted goddaughter, Shari Gray, a host of grand, great-grand, and great-great-great grandchildren, a bounty of adoring nieces, nephews, other family members, and her good friend, Lottie Mitten, all of whom hold her memory so very dear.

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Alice Rawles Sedka

August 29, 1910 - October 25, 2001