LENNIE JEAN ARRINGTON PORTIS
Dec. 12, 1944-Sept. 7, 2014
Lennie Jean Arrington Portis died Sept. 7, 2014, in Philadelphia, Pa.
Funeral services are Monday, Sept. 15, 2014, in Fayetteville, N.C., at 11 a.m. at Simon Temple AME Zion Church. Viewing is immediately prior to the service.
Arrangements are by Herring Funeral Care and Cremations.
Lennie Jean Arrington Portis was born on her mother's birthday, Dec. 12, in 1944, to the union of Esther Smith and Lennie Edward Arrington in Goldsboro, N.C.
She was raised by her grandparents, Eunice and Lewis Smith, and was preceded in death by both parents and grandparents.
Jean, as she was lovingly called all of her life, attended Goldsboro Public Schools, and was a proud graduate of the Dillard High School class of 1962.
She was a strong supporter of the Dillard High School Alumni Association for more than 50 years, an organization that sponsors yearly reunions and raises thousands of dollars for college scholarships. She eagerly looked forward to her trip home each year to participate in reunion activities.
Following high school graduation, she moved to Philadelphia, where she met and married Lewis Portis, who preceded her in death.
Her one son, Marlon, was born in Philadelphia.
Jean retired from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital after working in healthcare for more than 30 years.
Jean was a member of Germantown Christian Assembly for many years.
She loved the Lord, her church family and all church activities. She especially enjoyed her church "Care Group," which met monthly in each others' homes. She looked forward to this Christian fellowship, and enjoyed being one of the hosts.
Jean was a very loving and caring person; she was non-judgmental and always demonstrated a spirit of generosity, as well as greeted everyone with a big smile. She was the first one who would give when family and friends were in need.
She really enjoyed laughing at the antics of her many nieces and nephews, and they always knew that they had a friend in "Aunt Jean." As an example of how much young people cared about her, even when they were not related to her, they still called her "Aunt Jean."
Among her many interests, Jean enjoyed attending the Jackson Family Reunion in Parkstown, N.C.
She also appreciated listening to, and singing along with, "oldies but goodies" -- especially doo wops; watching many, many episodes of westerns -- with her favorite being "Gunsmoke;" catalogue shopping; and celebrating holidays.
She loved to travel, always enjoying visits to the Caribbean.
She was really looking forward to celebrating her 70th birthday this year in Miami with her sisters.
Jean's greatest love was her family. She and her only child, Marlon, had a very special connection, talking on the telephone all the time. She rarely made a move without consulting him.
He, on the other hand, loved his mom with a deep and abiding love. When she got ill in June, he went to Philadelphia to take care of her, managing his Fayetteville home from a distance with his wife, Rochelle. He stayed with his mom until the end.
Jean doted on her four grandchildren and great-grandchild.
She was inseparable from her "Philly" family, consisting of sister Queen Esther and her family. Those two sisters did everything together over the last 50 years.
Although she left us in physical form Sept. 7, 2014, she will always, always, always remain in our hearts.
Surviving to cherish her memory are her devoted son, Marlon Arrington (Rochelle) of Fayetteville, N.C.; grandchildren, Jeana Arrington, Ashley Arrington, Kyle Arrington and Alicia Arrington; great-grandchild, Mayor Cabanilla all of Fayetteville, N.C.; siblings, Queen Esther Harper (Roosevelt) of Philadelphia, Pa., Catherine W. LeBlanc of Fayetteville, N.C., James C. Arrington (Ruby) of Goldsboro, N.C., Jessina Gray (Jim) of Madison, Ala., Jeffrey Owens and Marcus Elliott; aunts, Maggie Sangster of Jamaica, N.Y., and Beatrice Arrington of Brooklyn, N.Y.; uncle, Paul Arrington of Augusta, Ga.; brother-in-law, Michael LeBlanc of Oakland, Calif.; special friends, Frances Werts of Philadelphia, Pa., Joyce Benton Peterson of Richmond, Va., and Jesse Hamm of Goldsboro, N.C.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on September 12, 2014 1:49 PM