Fernell H. Perkins

FERNELL VERNICE HOFF PERKINS, daughter of the late Coralie Byrd Hoff and Benjamin Steadore Hoff was born on December 8, 1924 in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the oldest of four children and was preceded in death by Benjamin Steadore Hoff Jr., Nathaniel Hawthorn Hoff Sr., and Cora Lee Hoff Oliver. She attended the Baltimore City Public School, graduating in the accelerated program from Douglass High School in February of 1943. She had ambitions of becoming a stenographer, but due to the state of the economy during World War II, she went to work sewing parachute for the military. Fernell met and married James Williams Perkins on October 2, 1943, and from this union four children were born. She enjoyed being a wife and mother and made a warm and loving home for her family. She made sure her husband, “Jim” she affectionately called him, had breakfast every morning before he went to work and dinner every night when he arrived home. She supported him in every aspect of his life. Fernell to night school at George Washington Carver Vocational School to take up hobby she loved. She graduated with a degree in sewing. She was very involved in the development of their children. She was president of the neighborhood association making sure there was a safe environment for their children and others. Fernell was also Den Mother for her son, Jimmy’s Boy Scott Troop and enjoyed taking her daughters, Gloria and Fernell to dance classes. She volunteered many times to substitute for Renee’s elementary school teachers whenever they needed her, and this Inspired her to become a teacher herself. After raising her four children till the youngest was nine years of age, Fernell enrolled in Coppin State University in 1966. She graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in 1970 to become a Baltimore City Public Teacher. She was a very dedicated and compassionate teacher, who was loved and respected by all her students. She was also a great inspiration to many of the young teachers and especially her daughter Gloria who followed in her footsteps and also became a teacher. After fifteen years of service, Fernell retired from teaching in 1985. Fernell was a very spiritual, compassionate person to all. She enjoyed attending church from a very early age, being baptized at Morning Star Baptist Church. She was a life time member of Whitestone Baptist Church where they affectionately referred to her as one of “the hat Ladies”. As long as she was able, she helped all who needed her from the kindness of her heart. Her son, James W. Perkins Jr. and a daughter, Fernell V. McKinney Mattox and two grandchildren, Gloria J. Gilliam Boone and Paris A. Ellis preceded her in death. Fernell leaves to mourn her husband of sixty-seven years, James W. Perkins; two of her daughters, Gloria Perkins Gilliam and Renee Perkins Smoot; and one son-in-law Dr. Duane T. Smoot. She also leaves to mourn her grandchildren, Dr. Ruth Gilliam Phillips and husband, Roderick Harris, Gil M. McKinney and wife, Tomarial McKenny, Genelle Mattox Whitaker and husband, Keith Whittaker, Branden G. Mattox, Lauren A. Smoot and D. Christopher Smoot; eight great-grandchildren, Paris A. N. Ellis, Ashley R. McKinney, Clark L. Phillip, Gil M. McKinney Jr., Isaiah A. Smoot-Wade, Logan A. Phillips, Jayden E. Harris and Zoey S. Whitaker; three aunts, Martha Leake, Sylvia Brown and Bernice Byrd, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

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Fernell H. Perkins

December 8, 1924 - March 17, 2011