Bertha Kearney

Bertha Kearney was born daughter to the late Tara Felder and Dinkins Felder in Sumter, South Carolina on April 9, 1918. She attended school in South Carolina. After a lengthy illness she departed this life on July 16, 2007, at home very peacefully. She came to Baltimore with her family in 1930. She attended school in this city. Between the time she was going to school and studying she met a fellow by the name of Louis Kearney. They were married and two children were born to this marriage. The marriage didn’t work for her, so she divorced her husband when her children were at the age of eight and nine years old.She was a faithful member of Christ Temple Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Mamie V. Johnson. Bertha had five late sisters, Mary McKay, Susie Felder, Azalee Hines, Carrie English and Evelyn Dukes, who sang on the choir. They were the Felder sisters in Christ Temple Church. She loved to sing her spirituals in church and at her home. When we had plays at church she made the Costumes for the children (Bertie as we called her) was very good at crafting. She made me a pair of wings for a costume when I played an angel in a play at church, there were many plays. Bertie wanted more education so she attended Division of Adult Education in the year 1950. She attended these classes until 1952. During this time her grades were okay, but not good enough for her. My mother stopped her classes to study, she went to work in the school system in the cafeteria until the year 1976. Longing for more education she attended Baltimore City Public Schools Adult and Community Education in 1978 her classes continued until she received her report card in 1981. She graduated and received her diploma with a 75 final mark. She attended Morgan State University for two years, after this she got a job working in the Baltimore City Jail in the Library. She fell, broke her ankle on this job in 1983. She retired soon after. Then she took up yoga taking her lessons, at times she asked me to do them with her. She always had her yoga book when practicing.She also loved to listen to the Morgan State University station on her radio. She loved to step to the music. She was still studying her books and writing. Bertie had the most beautiful smile. Her laughter would last you for a while. She could make tears come to your eyes with laughter. She loved to give the little children love hugs. Her smiles and her laughter will be forever remembered by family and friends.She leaves to mourn: her one sister, Julia Bumbrey; daughters, Emma and Arlene; nieces, Dale, Lisa, Juliette and Diane; nephews, Louis and Kirk; grandsons, Herland, Sr., Reginald, Donald, Antinio and Carl; granddaughter, Marlene; great-grandsons, Herland, Jr., Keon, Efrem and Chris; great-granddaughters, Keria, Tina and Tonya; three great-great-granddaughters, five grand-nieces, nine grand-nephews, four great-grand-nieces, six great-grand-nephews, three great-great-grand-nieces, a great-great-grand-nephew; four nieces-in-law, three nephews-in-law and a host of other family members. She also had one brother, Charles Felder; niece, Gladys; nephew, James; two grandsons, Efrem Sr. and Jules; five sisters, Mary, Susie, Carrie, Evelyn and Azalee, who all preceded her in death.

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Bertha Kearney

April 9, 1918 - July 16, 2007