Bertha Locklear

Bertha Locklear

(March 13, 1919 – December 6, 2014)

FAIRMONT — Bertha was born on March 13, 1919, to parents James "Mack" (c1846-1924) and Polly Ann "Annie" (1881-1968) Locklear. Bertha was born on the homesteaded estate of her father, located in the Black Ankle area of Fairmont, where she resided her entire life. She was the last surviving child born to Mack and Annie.

She was preceded in death by six siblings, Frank Locklear, Ander Locklear, Grazie Locklear, Leona Hunt, Lucinda Oxendine and Mae Jacobs. Bertha was preceded in death by 11 half-siblings, born to Mack and his first wife Aggienore Locklear; twin sisters, Mary Hunt and Martha Hunt, Redmond Locklear, Thurman Locklear, Chesley Locklear, Viola (Jip) Hunt, Madrick Locklear, McDaniel Locklear, Dehlie Locklear, Isadora Hunt and Lenora Strickland

Bertha was a great niece of Henry Berry Lowry, the infamous Lumbee avenger who mysteriously evaded law enforcement officials (c1872), never to be apprehended nor his whereabouts to be determined. Mack Locklear was the son of Mary Ann Lowry Locklear, the sister of Henry Berry Lowry.

Bertha was a beloved lifelong member of Piney Grove Baptist Church in Fairmont. Piney Grove Baptist Church was the anchor of her life.

Bertha was a tobacco farmer until 1968. Following retirement as a tobacco farmer, she worked at Goodrich and later at Converse Shoe factory, for 20 years. She was an avid gardener and loved the outdoors. She is locally renowned for her fruit cake recipe, which she baked annually for friends and family members, for a period spanning more than 50 years.

Bertha adored her nieces and nephews, church family, daughters and sons-in-law, grandchildren and a multitude of friends, too numerous to enumerate.

Bertha is survived by her daughter, Arlene Shellhouse and son-in-law, Art of Fallston, Md.; her daughter, Carol Hunt and son-in-law Redell of Fairmont; and niece, Gertrude Boehmer of Orange, Calif., whom she helped to raise. Bertha was preceded in death by her daughter, Clementine Mayer. Bertha is survived by four grandchildren, Magnolia Nichole Hunt and Joel Hunt, of Fairmont; Seth Shellhouse, of Venice Beach, Calif, and Brooks Shellhouse of Fallston, Md..

Bertha went home to be with the Lord on Dec. 7, 2014. The visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Floyd Funeral Services in Fairmont.

The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Piney Grove Baptist Church in Fairmont, the Rev. Charles Locklear officiating. Burial will follow in Piney Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

On-line condolences may be made by visiting: www.floydmortuary.net.