Obituary for Lena May Archer
Lena Mae Archer fell asleep in death on February 3, 2025 just days short of her 100th birthday. She was born February 22, 1925, to the late Joseph and Ida Goode of Amelia, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jessie Archer, and all nine of her siblings. Yes, Aunt Lena Mae was the last of her generation and the last of that great ancestral lineage that paved the way for so many of us. Although she had no children of her own, she adopted her niece Janine Johnson Archer Brown and raised her from a young age as her own. Janine in turn cared for Lena up until her death.
Lena grew up in Amelia, Virginia where she attended school and worked hard to care for her family. Her secular career included working for the US Postal Service for many years. One of greatest displays of unselfishness was to take care of her special needs brother Timothy Goode for many years until his death. Uncle Tim was not alone, as there were a number of other family members who at various times of need were welcomed in her home. Some stayed a day or two, while others stayed much longer. There was nothing she would not do for those she loved, and was unselfish in her acts of kindness. We will all miss her very much!
My, Aunt Lena Mae , was an exceptionally strong woman, as was all of the Goode ladies of her generation. Despite that tremendous strength and firmness when needed, she was most admired for her loving spirit as well as her mild and kind demeanor. She was absolutely one of the kindest people I have ever known; and reminded me so much of her sister and my grandmother, Josephine Branch. Aunt Lena truly had a very soft heart especially for her family, and others in need.
She was an excellent cook, loved reading all types of books, and enjoyed gardening. One of her favorite trees was the mimosa tree which she planted in her front yard. Later in her life she continued studying the Bible which she realized was certainly the most important book of all. During those Bible studies, she learned that death was not the end of it all. She no doubt understood that the Bible’s promise of a future resurrection of those who happen to fall asleep in death, was real. When I visited her the day before her death, I hugged her, kissed her, and prayed for her. I assured her that ‘her family loved her dearly, and told her it was absolutely okay to go to sleep now’. Like no other time that I was in her presence, I could tell that she was TIRED and could not fight much longer. “It’s okay to get some sleep now Aunt Lena…....... “ Rest in Peace Aunt Lena!
“Aunt Lee as she was known by many was one of the strongest, most giving persons many of us have ever known. We admired her hard work, her giving spirit, and the love she had for her family and friends.”
Lena Mae Archer was preceded in death by her siblings: Jane Fields, Josephine Branch, Henry Goode, Garrison Goode, Rosa Bigelow, Timothy Goode, Margaret Davis, Ida Clinton, and Barbara Scott. She is survived by her adopted daughter Janine Brown; grand-daughters Jaleesa Brown, Juliea Brown, Jalynn Brown, and Jordin McDuffie; great-grands Justise Trent, Sage Hilliard, and Worfe Hilliard. She also leaves to mourn her absence a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
May we all look forward to the day when death will really be no more.
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Previous Events
Service
Saturday
22
Feb
1:00 PM
M. W. Hawkes Funeral Home
15001 Patrick Henry Hwy
Amelia, VA 23002
Interment: Private
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