Service
Monday, February 20, 2023 |Wake: 10:00 a.m. |Service: 11:00 a.m. |
Seventh Day Adventist Church| 810 Shepard Street, N.W.| Washington, DC 20011
Celebration of Life for Eleanor Theresa Radford
Interment
Harmony National Cemetery| 7101 Sheriff Road| Hyattsville, MD 20785
In lieu of flowers or monetary gifts, the family requests donations be made
in the name of Eleanor “Terry” Radford to the Glaucoma Research Foundation
Eleanor, known to many as Terry, was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend; and will be missed terribly.
Terry, born Eleanor Sylvia Theresa Oliver in April of 1928, was the daughter of the late Taylor and Dollie Ann Oliver. She was the sibling of the late Rufus Minor Oliver, Taylor Oliver and Christine Parramore. Terry departed this earthly life on Monday, February 6, 2023 at the age of 94.
She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Jackson (husband Irvin); grandson, Jeson Jackson (wife Melanie); great-grandsons, Tyson and Theodore Jackson; as well as other extended family. Terry is pre-deceased by her husband, William Eugene “Gene” Radford and daughter, Saundra Theresa Radford.
Terry was a native Washingtonian. After graduating from high school she worked for the Federal Government. Terry was a devout Seventh Day Adventist and met her future husband at the First Seventh-Day Adventist Church and they were married there on March 30, 1952. Their union was blessed when Saundra was born in December 1952 and again when Beverly was born in June 1958.
Terry always loved children and worked as a Teacher’s Aide and also shared her gifts by becoming a foster mother, giving over 20 infants a strong start in life by bringing them into her home and treating them as her own from infancy to adoption. Later, Terry returned to the Federal Government when she joined the Department of Labor, excelling in her work and making lifelong friends. In 1982 Terry and Gene, along with Saundra, retired to Florida.
Terry’s passions and hobbies included bowling, reading, shopping and doll collecting.
Throughout most of her adult life, Terry bowled in leagues and with friends. Every year she read over 100 books, starting each year with the Holy Bible. Terry loved to shop and trips to Cow Town, NJ, New York’s East Side and the Ft. Lauderdale Swap Shop were always looked forward to. Later in life she learned to crochet and made several quilts for friends and family.
Terry lost her eldest daughter Saundra in 1988 and her husband Gene in 2007, however, she stayed in Florida and remained active in her church and with her hobbies. As Glaucoma took more of her sight, Terry moved into an assisted living in Maryland. While the loss of her eyesight was devastating, Terry worked to maintain her faith and her sense of humor. Terry remained mentally strong to the end, but was physically unable to recover from a fall on January 14th. Her sense of humor, compassion, faith and loyalty will be remembered and missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.