Alberta Janie-Lee Akins

On Friday June 6, 2025, at 1:48 AM, Alberta Janie Lee Akins passed beautifully and peacefully in her bed, surrounded by family and love.

The Granddaughter of slaves and quarry workers, Alberta Janie Lee Ross was born July 9,1931 in Salisbury, North Carolina to the late Will and Ella Ross. She grew up on the family farm, sharecropping. The ultimate daddy’s girl and one of the babies in a big family, her childhood was filled with being doted on and watching her older siblings get into mischief.

She loved sharing stories of growing up in the country, Pa and his shotgun, Auntie Eloise stealing Ma’s wigs to sneak to the juke joint and those sneaky milk stealing snakes. Terrible at picking cotton, 6-year-old Alberta's (Baby Sis or Sista as she was called then) job became to cook for the family while they worked in the field. Learning from her mother, Ella Mae, Alberta would develop her most prized skill, that she would continue into her late 80s. No measurements, no written recipes, ALL LOVE. Bert could whip up a meal in 30 minutes with all the fixings. The kitchen might look like a bomb hit it but that wasn’t her concern. Anyone blessed to experience the tenderness and love in her food, knows it was one of her favorite ways to express love. The true meaning of SOUL FOOD. Stuffing, Liver, Roast, Greens, Cabbage, My Momma Biscuits, Cornbread, POUND CAKE- just to name a few of the staples.

At 15, Alberta married Wille Akins, the handsome young man that lived across the field. After trying out a few cities up north, Willie decided to settle in Washington, D.C. during the second wave of the Great Migration. Alberta later joined him and began her life in the city where she would raise 4 generations and call home until her 90s.

A spiritual woman, growing up African American Methodist, shortly after arriving in D.C., Alberta joined St. John’s Baptist Church and was Baptized. Alberta also met Mary Bussey, and became quick friends. They would spend their time working together, enjoying Pepsi on the porch, Lee Williams concerts, and watching the stories. They raised their children together and remained best friends for nearly 6 decades until Ms. Bussey’s passing in February 2021.

Raising 9 children during the volatile and transformative 50s and 60s, mostly on her own, Bert, as a young mother, worked and worked A LOT! Alberta spent years working, what today would be called a Nurse’s aide or CNA. Long hours for little pay, she tended to elderly patients providing care and dignity. Oftentimes, having to deal with the ugliness of racism. Whether from mean elderly patients or bosses playing with her money. Through it all, she held her head high, and made the trek to the bus stop every day, to provide for her family; never taking a handout.

Becoming a mother at 16 and grandmother at 34 while being mostly on her own, Alberta had to spend a lot of time working. After decades of physically hard labor, Alberta retired in her 50s, where she began her next phase of life. During retirement, she was finally afforded the opportunity to be the mother and grandmother she longed to be. Doting on, feeding, and spoiling everyone, even the puppies! Alberta loved tending to her children and ANYONE needing some love. For the next 4 decades of her life, Alberta would take care of and help raise her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and anyone else who needed help! An invaluable gift to her family and community, as it allowed parents to save money and to go to work confident that their children were cared for and safe with the kind of love only Grandma Akins could provide. Alberta provided daily care for her great- grandchildren well into her 80s; with the last set of kids affectionately being given the family nickname “Bert ‘N Friends”.

There was nothing in this world more important to Alberta than her Grandchildren. Even still, there was no shortage of love for her to share! She also became a surrogate Grandmother and Mother to those that no longer or never had their own, a role she took with great pride. Always making sure to call and check-in on ALL her babies and friends, regularly. And maintaining close ties with her nieces and nephews in North Carolina, ensuring her presence and love was felt. Alberta, also enjoyed reading…everything. From her Bible and daily bread, the “space book” newsfeed on her iPad, gossip magazines, Hood novels, non-fiction and of course cookbooks. Aside from books and food, Bert’s house was also filled with music - Blues, Gospel, Soul, and even some Rap/Hip Hop provided the soundtrack to her grandchildren’s childhood! Passing down the love of music and partying to them.

Headstrong and stubborn Alberta lived independently until she was nearly 90 years old, when after an illness, her daughter Debra became her full-time caregiver, until she passed in November 2022. Following the passing of her daughter and primary caregiver, Alberta went to live with her granddaughter, Amanda. Living in a new environment, adjusting to a new primary caregiver, and navigating the loss of a child would break most, but not Bert! She grieved her daughter and adjusted to her new life. Every day, she prayed and made the decision to continue to LIVE and live well! She was an avid Sunday morning worshipper, faithfully tuning into her favorite television evangelists, church broadcasts and listening to the soulful singing of her favorite quartet group –The Williams Brothers featuring Lee Williams.

Alberta spent the last 3 years of her life being spoiled and having fun with friends and family. She leaves to cherish her memories, her children, Patricia (Eddie), Betty, Clarence, Tyrone (Carlene), Michael, Annetta (Wayne), Valerie, and Timothy (Sandi), along with 18 grandkids, 24 great-grand kids, 4 great great-grandkids, nieces and nephews, extended family in North Carolina and many special friends. And her legacy of love lives on in each one of us, down to the youngest Akins babies.

Legacy of Love (Author Unknown)

A wife, a mother, a grandma too, 
This is the legacy we have from you
You taught us love and how to fight
You gave us strength, you gave us might 
A stronger person would be hard to find, 
And in your heart, you were always kind. 
You fought for us all in one way or another 
Not just as a wife not just as a mother. 
For all of us you gave your best 
And now the time has come for you to rest. 
So in peace you’ve earned your sleep, 
Your love in our hearts we’ll eternally keep.

Services may be live Streamed at
https://youtube.com/live/x_JMq91OUbw