CONSTANCE ANN SAMUELS, daughter of the late Talley and Bessie Portee, was born in Baltimore,

Maryland in 1933. She was the oldest of six children born to this couple, three of them who preceded her in death,

Pat, Donald, Cyntha.

Constance, affectimately known as Ms. Connie or Mo, was educated in the Baltimore Public School System. She

was a Graduate of Douglas High School, Cortez Peters Secretarial-School, and Coppin State University with a BS

Degree in Teaching. Teaching was her passion. She not only LOVED Teaching, she LOVED Learning. She took

continued educatimal courses in Electronics and Manual Script Writing. She wrote Children's Books and an

Autobiography.

She met and married John Samuels Sr. in 1953. Four children werebom from this union.

Constance was employed at Westinghouse where she was honored for reaching the highest grade level for a woman

during her tenure. Constance followed her passion by becoming a Teacher in the Baltimore City and Baltimore

County School Sysems, Because of her dedication for teaching and her love for her students, Constance received

a multitude of honors. She taught school until she was 84 years old. She was an Assistance Director at the Forest

Park Senior Center where she developed a new structure consisting of nine units to bring better organization to the

programming.

Reading, Writing, Tutoring, Studying the Word of God, and Arts and Crafts were her hobbies. She taught her

daughters how to sew at ages 5 and 8. It is a skill that they have applied to their lives until this very day; with

Yvette receiving a College Degree in Fashion Design.

Ms. Connie was ccnsidered the "Neighborhood Mom" who was highly respected by all who knew her, especially

all the youth both bad and good. She hugged and loved them all.

Constance was a fathful member of Bethel AME Church for many years. She was also an Assistant to the Director

of the Bethel Woman's Center and a Teacher in the Bethel AME Elementary School. Constance transferred her

membership to Grate AME Church in 2003. She would help in any ministry that asked for it. With love, she became

a Grace Sunday Sdh.ool Teacher at age 82 until the Lord called her Home.

Our mother was alii unconditionally loving women. Her Spirit was gentle and sweet. Her mind was brilliant and

her body full of energy. Mo was a Praying Woman who taught her kids and grandkids the "Power of Prayer". All

would agree that sle was beautiful both inside and out.

On the morning of Friday, June 14th Constance went out to enjoy a day of lunch and shopping with her sister. A

few hours after returning home, she experienced a slight discomfort and shortly after she went home to be with the

Lord.

She leaves to moum: one sister, Tallie Eunice Murriel, one brother, James Ronald Portee; three children, Yvette,

Rhonda (Melvin), Bryan (Michele), John Jr (deceased); seventeen grandchildren, Kevin Jr, Tifany, Jerry, Nikeya,

John III, Matthew, Gabrielle, Atom, Daniel, Joshua, Lex, Will, Tamberlee, Jevon, Daman, Melvin Jr., Brandon

(deceased), Marlo; fourteen great-graidchildren; one great-great-grandchild. She also leaves to mourn a host of

nieces, nephews, gteat-nieces, great-nephews, family and friends who she loved so much.