Obituary for Mozella Berthina Ritter
Ms. Mozella Berthina Ritter, affectionately known as “Bud”, the ninth child of twelve children to the late Jordan Bessill Ritter and Nora Lee Ritter, was born on May 29, 1931, in Carthage, North Carolina. She passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 03, 2022, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
At an early age, Mozella joined Bellview A.M.E. Zion Church where she attended services regularly with her family. She later joined Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion church in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was a faithful member and served on the Trustee Board. Mozella loved the Lord and was known to say, “GOD is good, all the time and all the time, GOD is good.”
Mozella was a 1949 graduate of Pinckney High School in Carthage, North Carolina, and continued her education at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1953. She went on to acquire her Masters Degree in Education from Coppins State University.
As a woman who was true to her profession of education, Mozella shared her knowledge and love for teaching with so many. Her career started as a principal at Davis School in Robbins, North Carolina, and continued when Mozella moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1960. In Baltimore, Mozella taught at two Baltimore middle schools before concluding her teaching career at Hampstead Hill Middle School where she retired.
Once retired, one of her greatest joys was sending her young nieces and nephews books, making sure she could still impact the lives of children with education. Mozella taught life lessons to many, but her family learned the most from her lessons, which will always be remembered.
Mozella was very active in her community and a part of numerous organizations. She participated in the C.R. Coleman Courtesy Guild, Red Hatter Club, and the local Lay Council, ultimately serving as District President of the Lay Council. She was also a member of the Retired Teachers Association, Baltimore Liberty Chapter AARP 4636 and L.A. Fitness Breakfast Club. One of her greatest joys was being a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated. She was initiated into the Baltimore Alumnae Chapter on April 14, 1989, where she remained active until her health declined.
Some of Mozella's hobbies were photography, computer classes, and bowling in which she was an avid bowler. Many of her most cherished moments were seeing and spending time with her family as they returned to the “homeplace” - - Carthage, North Carolina - - to the home she built for all to enjoy. While she enjoyed family, they also enjoyed her charismatic personality and will remember her for saying, “Love you more” when someone told her “I love you.”
Mozella was preceded in death by her parents Jordan and Nora Ritter, her siblings Sophia (Claude), James Edward (Alma), Gertrude (Charles), Dorothy (Walter), Arbella (Lee), Jordan Martin (Carrie), Odessa, Jerry and Paul aka “Joe Boy” (Mazie).
She leaves to cherish her legacy, two sisters Ms. Marjorie Pearline Ritter Brown of Bridgeport, Connecticut and Ms. Frankie Jeanette Ritter Peace, Durham, North Carolina; her caregiver and niece Ms. Kimberly Evans, Durham, North Carolina; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives, friends and neighbors.
At an early age, Mozella joined Bellview A.M.E. Zion Church where she attended services regularly with her family. She later joined Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion church in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was a faithful member and served on the Trustee Board. Mozella loved the Lord and was known to say, “GOD is good, all the time and all the time, GOD is good.”
Mozella was a 1949 graduate of Pinckney High School in Carthage, North Carolina, and continued her education at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1953. She went on to acquire her Masters Degree in Education from Coppins State University.
As a woman who was true to her profession of education, Mozella shared her knowledge and love for teaching with so many. Her career started as a principal at Davis School in Robbins, North Carolina, and continued when Mozella moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1960. In Baltimore, Mozella taught at two Baltimore middle schools before concluding her teaching career at Hampstead Hill Middle School where she retired.
Once retired, one of her greatest joys was sending her young nieces and nephews books, making sure she could still impact the lives of children with education. Mozella taught life lessons to many, but her family learned the most from her lessons, which will always be remembered.
Mozella was very active in her community and a part of numerous organizations. She participated in the C.R. Coleman Courtesy Guild, Red Hatter Club, and the local Lay Council, ultimately serving as District President of the Lay Council. She was also a member of the Retired Teachers Association, Baltimore Liberty Chapter AARP 4636 and L.A. Fitness Breakfast Club. One of her greatest joys was being a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated. She was initiated into the Baltimore Alumnae Chapter on April 14, 1989, where she remained active until her health declined.
Some of Mozella's hobbies were photography, computer classes, and bowling in which she was an avid bowler. Many of her most cherished moments were seeing and spending time with her family as they returned to the “homeplace” - - Carthage, North Carolina - - to the home she built for all to enjoy. While she enjoyed family, they also enjoyed her charismatic personality and will remember her for saying, “Love you more” when someone told her “I love you.”
Mozella was preceded in death by her parents Jordan and Nora Ritter, her siblings Sophia (Claude), James Edward (Alma), Gertrude (Charles), Dorothy (Walter), Arbella (Lee), Jordan Martin (Carrie), Odessa, Jerry and Paul aka “Joe Boy” (Mazie).
She leaves to cherish her legacy, two sisters Ms. Marjorie Pearline Ritter Brown of Bridgeport, Connecticut and Ms. Frankie Jeanette Ritter Peace, Durham, North Carolina; her caregiver and niece Ms. Kimberly Evans, Durham, North Carolina; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives, friends and neighbors.