Esther Lavinia Penn, 54

LAUREL - Ether Lavinia Penn of Laurel departed this life Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, in the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford. She was 54.

Ms. Penn was born July 19, 1953, to the late Robert Vandolph and Annie Mary (Truitt) Penn.

She received her first six years of education at the Owens Corner School of the rural area of Delmar and finished by attending the Delmar High School.

Ms. Penn"s choice of church was the Supreme Council of the House of Jacob which she was a member of the Salisbury, Md., congregation under the teaching of Advance Presiding Elder Leon Burks.

She enjoyed going to church, being in the choir of the Salisbury Spiritual Tones. She loved Bible school class.

Ms. Penn enjoyed learning the word of God and mingling with her church family.

She was known to her church family as "Lou," and loved and cherished her family. She was mother to them all, cooking, cleaning, instilling virtue, love, guidance and keeping the family together.

Ms. Penn never married nor did she have any children of her own, yet she helped with the upbringing of many nurturing and loving.

Her hobbies included painting by numbers, doing word finds, reading books and also the Bible, and singing "Good Morning Holy Father" with Destinee Chester most days.

Ms. Penn, an extraordinary woman, was one of eight children.

She was the second born, therefore leaves to mourn five sisters and two brothers, Diane Truitt, Katherine L. Penn, Brenda R. Penn. Deborah L. Penn, Valerie C. Penn, Robert J. Penn and Michael L. Penn; three aunts, Mother Alice L. Gattis, and Deaconess Elizabeth I. Hyland on the mothers side and Grace Johnson from her father"s; a host or cousins, nieces and nephews; a loving godmother, Advance Senior Mother Kathaline Leatherbury; a godson, Michael Leatherbury; and her friends whom she dearly loved.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Supreme Council of the House of Jacob, Princess Anne, Md., where friends may call two hours prior.

Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home.