Alberta Stewart-Townsend, 88

SMYRNA - Alberta Stewart-Townsend of Smyrna departed this life Sunday, May 27, 2007, at St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington, after a long illness. She was 88.

Alberta was born Nov. 3, 1918, in Lancaster, S.C., to the late Eddie McCarter and Viola Stewart-McCarter.

She received her education in the South Carolina public school system.

Alberta moved to Smyrna in 1954, and the following year she became a member of St. Paul Church.

She retired from the Hospital for the Chronically Ill, Smyrna, after 21 years of employment.

Alberta married her beloved husband of 27 years, the late Ellis M. Townsend, who preceded her in death on Oct. 19, 1986. She was also preceded in death by one son, Marvin J. Crain, on Nov. 14, 2006; three grandchildren, Renee Williams, Jerome Williams and Dewayne Crain; four sisters, Bernice Viola McCarter-Felder, Leanna "Aunt Jo" McCarter-Sowell, Minnie Bell Funderburk and Mary "Aunt May Francis" Jones.

She leaves to cherish her memories 11 children, Nina Louise Grier of Wilmington, William Paul Thompson of Washington, D.C., Robert Crain of Haymarket, Va., Betty Frink of Dover, Sherry Brown of Wilmington, Rose L. Williams of Columbus, Ohio, Kary M. Crain of Dover, Evelyn Townsend-Portis of Columbus, Kate F. Fields of Wilmington, King L. Crain of Dover, and Roger Townsend of Smyrna; 38 grandchildren; 78 great-grandchildren; 43 great-great-grandchildren; and a great-great-great-grandchild; two sisters, Mildred Witherspoon of Monroe, N.C., and Beatrice Clyburn of Charlotte, N.C.; four daughters-in-law, Rena Thompson of Washington, D.C., Doris Crain of Haymarket, Emma Crain of Dover, and Rochelle Townsend of Smyrna; two sons-in-law, Charles Brown of Wilmington, and Edwin Portis of Columbus; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, loving neighbors, friends and the St. Paul Church family.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. today in St. Paul United Methodist Church, Smyrna. A viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church.

Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.