Alberta Elizabeth Bishop Purnell was born September 28, 1926 to tlie late Oscar Jerome and Sarah Bond Bishop in Perry Point Maryland. On December 20, 2004, Alberta was received into the gates of Heaven after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s' disease.

She received her formal education in a one-room elementary school in Gravel Hill and graduated into the seventh grade. The commencement exercise was held at the Union United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, Maryland. She graduated from the former Havre de Grace Colored High School, where she later did her practice teaching while attending college. Alberta matriculated at the former Maryland State College, now the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland, receiving a B.S. degree in Home Economics in 1951. She later earned a Masters degree in Education from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1960.

Her Christian training had its roots at St. James A.M.E. Church on Gravel Hill Road in Havre de Grace, Maryland where she joined at an early age and sang with the Chancel Choir, then known as the Lily of the Valley Chorus. In later years, she was active in the Waugh United Methodist Church in Cambridge, Maryland and the Christ Rock United Methodist Church in Christ Rock, Maryland.

She was united in holy matrimony to the late Raymond David Purnell on September 7, 1947 and from this union they were blessed with two sons: Barry and Ronald. They shared a loving and devoted marriage of thirty-eight years until his death on April 13, 1989.

Mrs. Purnell began teaching Home Economics in Hartford County in 1952. In 1954, she continued teaching Home Economics at the former Maces Lane High School in Cambridge, Maryland where she taught for many years. She retired on July I, 1982 from teaching at Cambridge - South Dorchester High School. In 1974 she received the Dorchester County Secondary Educator of America Award. That same year, she was one of four teachers nominated for Outstanding State of Maryland Home Economics Teacher. During her professional career, she served as president of the Maryland State Teachers Association and held membership in the National Education Association. In the community, she was a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the Iota Phi Lambda - Beta Epsilon Sorority.

Alberta enjoyed sewing, cooking, crafts, modeling, antique collecting, and shopping. After her retirement from teaching, she blended her Home Economics skills with her joy of cooking to start a catering business specializing in professional cakes.

This warm loving woman will be greatly missed by those who knew her. She leaves to cherish her memory: her sons, Barry David and wife Jennifer of Baltimore, MD and Ronald Duraye and wife Georgianna of Ypsilanti, MI; four grandchildren, Chandra Lynne Bond and husband William of Alexandria, VA, Bryan Purnell of Charlotte, NC, Brandon Purnell of Baltimor_e, MD and Tiffany Purnell of New York, NY; four great- grandchildren, Asha, Amaru, Jayla, and Destiny; four brothers: Oscar, Eugene and wife Grace, Albert and Ronald and wife Arthurine; three sisters, Geraldine Hague, Grace Bond and husband Herbert and Dorothy Hall one aunt, Blanche Purnell, three brothers-in-law, Bernard and wife Louise, Thomas and wife Jean and Walter and wife Jeannette; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Three sisters, Celeste Jamison, Arcina Benn-White, Hortence Bishop and two brothers, George and Paul Bishop preceded her in death.

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