Bertha L. Jefferson

Bertha Jefferson, 82, a devoted and beloved mother, passed away quietly on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at her daughter’s home in Northern Virginia, due to complications from congestive heart failure. She was born on August 23, 1934 in Columbia, South Carolina to Bertha Johnson and Charles Stroman, and happily moved from there to Washington, D. C in 1955 where she resided until a few months before her death. Bertha dedicated her life to raising her four children and worked diligently at various places of employment to afford them better opportunities than she had growing up. In 1969, she completed a Nutrition Education Aide program that was run by the then Federal City College, whereby she was employed as a Community Education worker for several years until the program’s end. Bertha eventually landed a job within the federal government from which she retired in 1995 after working there tirelessly for over twenty years. During that time, even though money was scarce after providing for her children, she still made the effort to donate funds to charitable organizations and efforts, some of which included reconstructing the new Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in southeast Washington, D.C. in the early 1970’s and building an orphanage in South America. Bertha converted to Catholicism in 1967 and became of member of the Sodality of the Annunciation at St. Lukes Catholic Church that same year. Reading the Bible brought her solace. During her lifetime, she also took pleasure in owning and caring for several long-living parrots and several cats, sometimes simultaneously. Collecting family photos and dolls occupied her time as well. Listening to C-span and actively discussing politics was also a passion, but she was equally passionate about listening to music, especially selections played on the piano and almost anything performed by her favorite artist, Al Green. Bertha is survived by David Jefferson, her youngest son, of Washington, DC; Clay Jefferson, her oldest son, and his spouse Tonya, of Annandale, VA; Linda Jefferson Colwell, her oldest daughter, and her spouse William Colwell, of Stone Mountain, GA; Thelma Jefferson-George, her youngest daughter, and her spouse Samuel George, of Northern Virginia; and three adult grandchildren: Anwar, Ravi, and Kyra Jefferson-George. A gravesite burial service was held at Fairfax Memorial Park located in Fairfax, Virginia on July 17, 2017 and was attended by immediate family. She will be greatly missed by her family and will lovingly and eternally live on in their hearts and minds.