Seldon Marie Eastern

Eastern, Seldon Marie Passed away peacefully and went to her Heavenly Home on September 5, 2012. The second oldest of four children, Seldon was born on April 1, 1925 in Clinton, Tennessee. Her parents strongly believed in education and after she graduated from Green McAdoo Elementary School, she attended LaFollette High School riding a bus 48 miles every day. Although the Clinton Schools remained segregated at the time, her parents petitioned the school board for her to attend the white high school in Knoxville Tennessee which she was allowed to attend after they agreed to pay one half of the tuition. After high school graduation, she attended Knoxville College on a basketball scholarship, where she met and married Marion Eastern and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. They moved to Milwaukee in 1951 and she lived there for the remainder of her life. When Seldon decided to work to help support her family, she was unable to find any positions open that would utilize her education, but she persevered and was finally licensed to teach in Milwaukee. In her words "By the Grace of God, I was able to teach elementary students in the Milwaukee Public Schools for thirty years." Having worked so hard for her own education, Seldon always believed that education was for everyone and that teaching was not an eight hour job. She believed that teaching methods should be determined by the needs of the child. She found great happiness in the later success of students she taught at a young age. A deeply spiritual woman, Seldon attended both the Methodist and Baptist Churches in her hometown of Clinton. After moving to Milwaukee, her family became members of St. Phillips Lutheran Church and even there she followed her vocation by serving on the Board of Education. She joined Community Baptist Church in the 1980's and faithfully served in a number of capacities always ministering to others and never forgetting those who were ill or alone. On May 7, 2004, she was awarded the distinction of Mother of the Year and was always very pleased to be known as a Mother of the Church. She was dedicated to her five children insisting that all of them complete high school and attend college. She also introduced them to a love of sports and the arts while being supportive in all of their endeavors. As she did with her students, she mothered based on the needs of each of her children and absolutely deserved the Mother of the Year Award that was bestowed upon her. Her memory will be kept alive by all who love her. She is survived by her children Llewellyn, Candace, Jeffrey, Cynthia and Darryl (TC); her sister, Helen Hodges, as well as nine grandchildren, four great - grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and many friends. Funeral Services Saturday, September 15, at 11:00 AM, at COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, 2249 N. Sherman Blvd., Milwaukee. Visitation Saturday at the CHURCH from 10:00 AM until time of services.