Pearl Ceresia (Holland) Hood, 95

LEWES - Pearl Ceresia (Holland) Hood of Lewes was born Oct. 26, 1911, daughter of Nehemiah and Minnie Holland. She departed this life Wednesday, April 11, 2007, in the Lewes Convalescent Center. She was 95.

She was born in Pinetown. She attended school in Milton and then went to Delaware State College, Temple University, Rutgers University and the University of Delaware to obtain her bachelor"s and master"s degrees in education.

Pearl married Grafton Hood in January 1932, and they raised two children.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a sister, Helene Ward; a brother, Abraham White; two grandsons, Brian Perry Sr. and Steven Hood; and a granddaughter, Stacie Hood.

Pearl was employed as a school teacher for more than 34 years. She taught school at Blackwater-Frankford, Phillip C. Showell in Selbyville, Milton Elementary, H.O.B. Elementary School in Milton and summer Headstart in Milford, and worked at the Stockley Center and Pressing Factory in Milton.

She dedicated her life to Christ at Burton Chapel A.M.E. Church and then moved to Bethel A.M.E. Church in Milton, where she remained faithful until the end. She was a member of the senior choir, stewardess board, steward board, trustee board and missionary society, past Y.P.D. director, past secretary of the official board of the church, past president of the lay organization - which she started at the church, past secretary of the quarterly conference, past chairman of the Delaware conference memorial committee, and also sang in the Delaware conference choir.

Pearl was a member of the Eastern Star and the AKA Sorority. She was also a member of the National Council of Negro Women, Sussex County Arts Council, Lewes Senior Center and Slaughter-Neck CHEER Center. She attended the Gull House in Rehoboth Beach, and was a volunteer at the Lewes Convalescent Center and Harbor Health Care. She also was a board member of the former Milton Day Care Center.

During her last couple of years, she became a Cape Henlopen boys varsity basketball fan. She enjoyed going to all the games, both home and away, and called the players "Her Boys." She was always proud of them, regardless of the outcome of the games.

Pearl leaves to cherish her memorable life, two children, Thomas Hood of Coatesville, Pa., and Pearl Cannon of Milton; five grandchildren, Sharon Green (AJ), Thomas Hood Jr., Sheila Hood, Sabrina Copeland (David) and Ceresia Cannon (Thomas Messick); 15 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two nephews, Ralph Holland and Herman White; five nieces, Naomi Perry, Eleanor Reed, Ruth Turner, Grace Thomas and Thelma White; a brother-in-law, James Hood; and a host of other family members.

She will be sadly missed by many treasured family members and friends.

Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Bethel A.M.E. Church, Mulberry Street, Milton, where friends may call two hours before the service. The Rev. Lamont Harmon will officiate.

Arrangements by Miller Funeral Services, Lewes.