Almedia Keaser

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”Almedia Keaser, daughter of the late Weldon and Blanche Russell of Manson, North Carolina, was born on January 11, 1928. Almedia was the sixth of eleven children, all of whom have preceded her in death, except for Anne, Bessie and Thurman. She departed this life on October 2, 2003.She received her Christian education at an early age at Burchette Chapel Christian Church in Manson, North Carolina. She served there until moving to Baltimore upon graduating from Wise High School with Honors. In Baltimore, Almedia met and married the love of her life, the late Lloyd T. Keaser of Pumphrey, Maryland. From this blessed union, seven Children were born. All who knew her soon realized that her family was her ministry and her legacy was love.Almedia was self-sacrificing and insisted on always putting everyone else before herself. She remained until her departure in the mode of giving and never asking in every aspect of her life. Apart from her own children, her grandchildren remained her greatest source of joy and pride. Everyone was considered family, in-laws and friends alike. To the amazement of all, even the youngest children in the neighborhood “sought” comfort and joy in the presence of her home. To quote one six year-old neighbor, “ I am playing with Mrs. Keaser.She retired from the Anne Arundel County Board of Education at the age of sixty-five. As and employee for the county, she was consistently cited for excellence and going beyond the call of duty. For years, she baby-sat her grandchildren before going off to full-time work in the evenings. Other loves of her life included fishing, family cookouts, computer games, bargain shopping and day trips. These and many other attributes earned her the title of Virtuous Woman as cited in Proverbs 31. “Her children arise up and call her blessed.She leaves to cherish her memory: six children, Lloyd W. of Ashburn, Virginia, Michael E. Glen Burnie, Deborah L. of Gambrils, Ruth K. Jones of Severn, Angela M. of Pumphrey, and Clyde L. Columbia; six grandchildren, Michael, David, Julius, Justin, Shawn, and Ryan; and one great-granddaughter, Layah. She leaves two brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, three daughters-in-law, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and countless friends.

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Almedia Keaser

January 11, 1928 - October 2, 2003