Beatrice Cephas

HURLOCK - Beatrice Cephas, 71, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, at Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge.

Born Jan. 2, 1935, in Noga, Fla., she was the daughter of Priscilla Rivers Wells and the late Ralph Rivers.

Affectionately called Bea, she was educated in the Dorchester County Public Schools. In 1953, she married James A. Cephas. From this union three children were born.

Mrs. Cephas was employed as a seasonal worker for various canneries in Maryland and Delaware. She attended Mount Carmel Holiness Church in Hurlock, for many years.

In addition to her husband of 53 years and her mother, she is survived by three children, Priscilla Cephas of Trappe, Ralph Cephas of Easton, and Anna Barrett of Cambridge; grandchildren, Ralph Bolden of Easton, Charles Cephas of Trappe, and La'Tasha Cephas of Trappe; adopted grandchildren, Odell Johnson of East New Market and Tameka Fulford of Dover, Del.; nieces, Beverly Rivers of Trappe, Lori Copper and Wendy Rivers both of Hurlock, Nicole Henry of East New Market, Charmane, Bernice, Sonya and Dominque all of Chester, Pa.; nephews, Cornell and Darren both of Chester, Pa.; an uncle, Richard Thomas of Daytona Beach, Fla. and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins in Florida, New York, South Carolina and Georgia; three stepsisters, Miriam Brooks of Trappe, Regina Jones of Massachusetts and Sara Coleman of Philadelphia, Pa.; three great-nephews and one great-niece from Hurlock and East New Market; a sister in-law, Gertrude Hughes of Hurlock, and a devoted friend, Anne Wongus.

She was preceded in death by her father; a sister, Daisy Rivers; brothers, Rufus Rivers and Clarence Rivers; a niece, Regina Cephas; a brother in-law, Elmer Cephas; stepfather, Nathan Wells and special friends, Vanee West, Dorothy Hobbs and Olin Briggs Jr.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, at Henry Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge with a viewing held two hours prior to the services. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery in Hurlock.