Earlene Mayfield's Obituary
Lenora Earlene Mayfield was born November 3, 1936, in San Angelo, Texas to Harry and Ruthel Davis. This union produced four children, Earlene being the second born and the oldest girl. When she was seven years old, her parents along with her and her brother, moved to New Mexico. When she was nine, the family relocated to Oakland, California where her two sisters were born.
Earlene continued her education in the Oakland Public School District. She participated in the school and church choirs as well as modern dance classes with Ms. Ruth Beckford through the Oakland Parks and Recreation Department. She was a graduate of Oakland Technical High School.
While attending Oakland Junior College, she was introduced to Howard Mayfield by close friend, Pat Melton. Earlene and Howard were married and remained so for 62 years. From that union came a daughter, Karen Mayfield-Ingram.
Earlene initially was a stay-at-home mom, taking care of Karen until she attended preschool. Subsequently, Earlene went to work at Liberty House department store, where her mother also worked. She was assigned to the yardage department. Earlene was well liked by all who met her, always greeting people with a smile, and treating them with courtesy. The yardage department provided an avenue for her to utilize her knowledge of fabric and sewing. Her sewing expertise, also shared with her sisters, had enabled her when she was younger to make her own outfits for social events. She made clothing for Karen’s various activities and including prom. Earlene then worked for the City of Oakland for over 25 years serving as a clerk in the Purchasing Department for the Oakland Redevelopment Agency and then in the Accounting Department of the City of Oakland. She retired in 1996.
Earlene and Howard stayed connected to schoolmates, often attending the “Teens of the Fifties” events. They loved dancing and socializing with friends from various high schools who attended school during the fifties. After their retirement, they enjoyed traveling and entertaining friends. They took numerous cruises to islands in the Caribbean and Alaska. During one of their trips Howard surprised Earlene with a vow renewal ceremony on the island of Negril, Jamaica. They also traveled to visit friends and relatives across the country. They were a couple in the true sense of the word. They would go to dinner shows at Yoshi’s, take drives along the coast, and enjoy walks around the Berkeley area where they lived for over 60 years.
Earlene was preceded in death by her loving husband, Howard Mayfield, mother, Ruthel Davis, father, Harry Davis Sr., and brother, Harry Davis, Jr. She leaves behind her daughter, Karen Mayfield-Ingram; granddaughter, Janelle Ingram; son-in-law, LaRon Ingram II; sisters, Sheila Harper and Pamela Primas; brother-in-law, Daniel Harper; nieces, Adriane Primas, Rochelle Mayfield, Penda Primas, and Tara Harper; nephews, Harry Davis III, Andwele Harper, Jelani Harper, Angelo Primas II, and Dominique Davis; cousins, Roscoe Mack and Reginald Mack; grandnieces, Sydney Primas and Ariella Harper; grandnephews, Angelo Primas III and Gyasi Harper. Earlene will be fondly missed by those she loved and those who loved her.
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