Earlene Felton

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2) On Wednesday, June 10, 2020 our God, in his infinite wisdom determined that it was time for EARLENE S. FELTON to begin a new season so he plucked up that which he planted and retuned her to His heavenly garden where weeping will be no more, where pain has turned to wholeness and joy is everlasting. She is reunited with those she loves, those whom God has credited for righteousness, her parents, Earl J. Smith, Sr. and Lillian Vernette Smith, her sisters Peggy Snead and Joycelyn Smith, adoring Uncle and Aunt Irvin and Helen Lewis, and great nephew Amani Dashaun McCubbin. To Yaweh,our Heavenly Father be the Glory for the great things he has done! This bundle of joy made her debut on October 7, 1950 in Baltimore, MD., immediately setting the world on fire and turning lives upside down. At an early age she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, being baptized at Fountain Baptist Church. She later moved to Eastern United Methodist Church where her grandmother Mary Keene was a faithful and devoted lifelong member. Earlene received her basic education in the Baltimore City School system attending Ft. Worthington Elementary, Herring Run Junior High and Patterson High School from whence she graduated in 1968. She continued her formal education at Coppin State College, now University, receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education in 1974. Earlene began her teaching career in Special Education at Booker T. Washington Middle School (BTWMS) in September 1974. She briefly left BTWMS transferring to Canton Middle in 1975 but returned to Booker T. after one year there. She remained at BTWMS until retirement in 2010. While at BTWMS Earlene served diligently as a New Teacher Mentor, S.L.I.C Facilitator helping many new teachers reach their highest levels of excellence. She was IEP Program Manager from 2008 – 2010. Earlene also shared her time and expertise with the East Baltimore Youth Service Bureau, Justice IRS, and Council of Exceptional Children. She was also an active member of the Coppin State Alumni Association and the Phillip Merille Black History Archives program teaching history to middle school students under the Nanny Jack No History No Self project. She had a major impact on her students many of whom continued in her sphere of influence throughout their lives. James Drummond and Bernard Green became her two sons from another mother and devoted themselves to caring and attending to her into their adulthood. She is extremely proud of these gentlemen and loved them dearly. A giant piece of her heart belongs exclusively to them. Earlene loved being with her families in Pennsylvania, Baltimore and Virginia. She enjoyed being surrounded by her many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends at backyard parties, cook-outs, crab feasts, holiday dinners, birthday celebrations, and family homecoming activities, all major events in her life. When her mobility was limited that did not stop Earlene from staying in touch with her family. She had weekly calls with her Uncle Jack. The highlight of her week was catching up on things with her Sunday morning 8AM conference calls with her sisters. Earlene was the consummate social diva and fashionista, loved by everyone she met. She was always dressed to the “T” and beautifully adorned with the finest of accessories. One of her favorite past times was sharing her “Yummalicious” recipes on Facebook with her friends and others. To her brother Leonard, Earlene’s smile, laughter and words made the world a better place. To her sister Darcia (“Sissy”), Earlene was everything that one could ever want in a big sister. She was always there to advise, encourage and love. To her sister Christina (MaryBeth), Earlene was her “Pearl”, her everything. To her sister Anisia (“Niecy”), Earlene always had time, real talk and laughs for her little sister and gladly introduced me as her “Little Sister”. To her brother Earl, Earlene was the one who always reminded him that he was the “Little Brother”. To her nephews and nieces, Earlene was to some their second mother, confidant, mentor and inspiration. She was a great piece of their heart as she supported them in all their endeavors and showered them with patience, compassion and unconditional love. To others she was the person in whom they emulated as a teacher. Her heart, compassion and willingness to do what was best for children is what they strive for each day in the classroom. Yet to others Earlene was the epitome of the saying “The cup is half full”. No matter what she always had a smile on her face. Her laughter and positive outlook on life is why no matter what may come our way and no matter how bad things get, our cup will always be half full. Earlene leaves to cherish her memory: brother Leonard (Ruth) Spencer, sister Darcia (Francel) Smith, sister Christina (Robert) Davis, sister Anisia (Jeffrey) Cottman, brother Earl, II (Akua) Smith, her Uncle Clarence “Jack” (Lelia) Smith, 2 devoted sons James Drummond and Bernard (Shellnell) Green. Twenty-two nieces and nephews, 45 great nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Earlene Felton

October 7, 1950 - June 10, 2020