Lena Carter

LENA CARTER, the fifth child born to the late Ida Mae and Lennon Franklin, was born May 31, 1925 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Lena had eight siblings, Lacy, Lucille, Estea, Estella, Dorothy Mae, Lennon Jr., James Thomas, and Mary. Lena received her diploma from Greenville High School in Emporia, Virginia where she was captain of the Girls Basketball Team and was named "Leaping Lena." She moved to Emporia, Virginia at a young age, where she met and married Willie John Daniels. Lena later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia where she met and married Robert A. Carter. In the 1950s, she moved to Baltimore, Maryland. She went to school for cosmetology; but later received her nursing certification and worked as a certified nurse from 1976 until she retired in 2000. Lena was employed by Shirley Brown, a Baltimore television personality. While employed, she cared for and loved Shirley's two sons Jerry and Robert "Bobby" as her own. That love never faded away. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and was an active member of Fulton Baptist Church where she served as President of the Nurses Unit. Lena was the matriarch of the family and will truly be missed by all. She loved people and loved to entertain family and friends in her home. She loved gardening and when she became too ill to bend and plant herself, she would have her companion, Mr. Thomas Valentine, plant the flowers for her. While he planted she made sure she was directing and supervising what and where to place things. Mr. Tom knew to get it near perfect; it had to be just right, exactly how she wanted or he would not hear the end of it. Lena was a great cook, too. You could not find a soul who didn't enjoy the many dinners she prepared and the cookouts in her well-manicured backyard. Her hospitality was impeccable; and the decor of her home was that of a Lady with riches. She was definitely a "First Class Lady"! Lena leaves to cherish her memory: her children, Barbara Jean Roberts, Edith Dunn, and Sandra Holt; her grandchildren, Derrick Dunn, Danny Hicks, Pamela (April) Harris, Charles (Charon) Dunn, Courie Roberts, Lekeisha Nicole Holt, and a very special granddaughter, Latonya Monique Adams; twenty-one great-grandchildren and a fifth generation of two great-great- grandchildren; sister, Mary (Edward) Lambert; brothers, Lennon Jr. and James Thomas,; sisters-in-law, Beatrice Butler and Pearl Davis Simmons; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, including a very special beloved friend, Mr. Thomas Valentine.

Tributes

Lena Carter

May 31, 1925 - May 16, 2014