Elizabeth A. Kenner

Elizabeth A. Kenner of Sioux City departed this life Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, in Sioux City. She was ushered into heaven by a host of family, cousins and friends.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Floyd Brown officiating. Burial will be in Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Elizabeth was born Jan. 22, 1922, to Sidney W. Birch and Lillian E. Hayes, in Forest Green, Mo. The family later moved to Sioux City, where she attended school and began her young adult life.

She married Clarence Kenner in Sioux City. He preceded her in death in 1972. She was a retired employee of the Sioux City Schools System as a school bus aide. This was a job she loved because she so loved children.

A devout lifelong Christian, she was a church pianist and choir director for Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. She played for and directed the gospel music group, "Rose of Sharon." She was a faithful and active church pianist. She served many years on the board of the Willing Workers and the Senior Mission, until she retired due to health reasons. Her support of the church continued until her death.

She was loved by many and all who came into contact with her. She was routinely known as the "pretty lady with the beautiful hats."

Survivors celebrating her going home are her sons, Edward E. (Angel) Woods of Sioux City; a sister whom she raised, Beverly Baker of Sioux City; a grandson, Rodrick (Brenda) Lightner; great-granddaughters, Sidney and Jordan Lightner; a grandson, Brandon Woods; great-grandchildren, Skylar and Donavan; a granddaughter, Monique (Donald) Scarlett; great-grandsons, Xavier and Leland Scarlett; a grandson, Eric Sudduth; great-granddaughters, Shawlee and Erica Sudduth; a granddaughter, Aleesha (Bethel) Barthelemy; a great-granddaughter, Adonia; great-grandsons, Bradley and Jory; a granddaughter, Celeste Triplett; great-grandsons, Darius and Daron; a great-granddaughter, Laura Triplett; a granddaughter, Carmell Sudduth; great-granddaughter, Domonique (Davey) Barnett; great-great-granddaughters, DreShawn and D'Jonique Hayes; and great-grandchildren, Dontisha Collado, D'Metrik Rainey and Dontre Blackwell. She was a mentor to her stepchildren, Sharon, Dixie and Richard Hayes, who lovingly called her Aunt Liz; and stepgrandmother to Russell and Darrell Bizett.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents; her parents; a brother, Ersel Birch; and seven grandchildren, Stephanie, Sidney, Cubie, Alejandro, Natasha, Edward and Angel Woods.