Lena R Parham

Lena Parham was born in Petersburg Virginia on 8/20/1936 to Laura and Copeland Crawley. She was Baptized at the Gilfield Baptist Church in Petersburg Virginia. Lena attended both Elementary and High School in Petersburg Virginia. She is the eldest of three children and is preceded in death by her two younger siblings. After High School, Lena got married to the late Ollie Parham and they had Betty Parham and Sandra Walker. Lena moved to New Jersey and met the late Donald E. Mayo. He raised Betty Parham and Sandra Walker as his own and they later had a son, the late Anthony Mayo. She has three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. In 1981 she gained employment at the YMWCA in Newark, where she started out teaching the Toddlers, but later went on to teach the 4-year-old Pre K Class. She loved her job teaching the children. In 1989 Lena attended Essex County College on a part time basis where she took CDA classes and acquired numerous certificates in both Professional and Child Care Development. So, when Ms. Marguerite Bush decided to have a Pre-School, Lena was behind her every step of the way and remained teaching at the school until she retired. Ms. Bush was not just an employer, but a friend. Lena had may attributes. She loved her family and the Lord fiercely. She was devoted to hard work and to the children in her class. In addition to these attributes, Lena was kind, loving, patient, considerate, understanding, generous, and always willing to help when needed. She loved the Lord. For many years on Sundays, she would watch Dr. Charles Stanley on TV. Lena was known for her delicious soulful cooking. Holidays were her specialty. She loved making Banana Pudding, Sweet Potato Pie, Collard Greens, Mac and Cheese; you name it. She is the cherished mother of Betty Parham, Sandra Walker, Aaron Walker(son-in-law), the late Anthony Mayo and Shelly Mayo(daughter-in-law). The loving grandmother of April Lane, Krystle Hatcher and Anthony J. Mayo. She was the great grandmother to Iyanna Walker, the late Isaiah Walker, Elijah Walker, Josiah Lane, Briana Hatcher, Hassan Hatcher and Arianna Hatcher. Visitation will take place on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Levandoski-Grillo Funeral Home, 44 Bay Avenue, Bloomfield. A Celebration of Life will begin at 12:00 p.m. at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield.