Catherine Easter

Celebration of Life

March 23, 1933                                                  September 5, 2019

Catherine Mosley Easter was born to James and Alice Davis Mosley on March 23, 1933 in Kanawha County, Laing, West Virginia. Catherine was the 3rd child out of 10 children.  She was predeceased by two brothers James Jr. and Elbert Mosley.  In 1964, she married the late Daniel Easter and during their marriage a daughter Pamela Renee was born. 

Catherine attended Wake Forest Elementary School, Wake Forest, West Virginia and Ferguson Elementary School, West Dunbar, West Virginia.  She was the Valedictorian of West Virginia State Teacher Training High School in Institute, West Virginia.  Catherine graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Virginia State College where she received her Bachelors of Science degree in Home Economics.  She attended a number of colleges such as Saint Paul College; College of William and Mary, Florida A&M University; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Old Dominion University School of Continuing Studies. 

Catherine worked at all levels of education. From 1957 to 1965 she worked for Mecklenburg County School System in which she was a teacher of Home Economics and Adult Education.  She was also the Supervisor of the High School Cafeteria. From 1965-1969 she worked for Virginia Union University as the Food Service Supervisor.  In the evening, she worked for Virginia Union University as a teacher of Elementary English to high school dropouts.  During this time she also worked with the Neighborhood Youth Corp training youth between the ages of 15-20 for different food service positions.  From 1969-1976, Catherine was the Assistant Food Service Supervisor for the Newport News Public School System.  In 1976 she became the Director of Food Services for the Newport News Public School System until her retirement in 1995 due to having the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease. 

In 1969, Catherine joined First Baptist Church Denbigh Church.  She along with her best friend, Delores Hawkins-Harrison, were the head of the youth ministry.  She was a member of the Board of Education, Personnel and Nominating Chairperson for two of the Pastors that served at the church.  In 1973, Catherine started and was the Administrator of the Day care for the church in addition to working with the school system.  Due to a fire, the church burned to the ground and for a few years the church did not have a day care center.  Pastor Ivan Harris requested that a daycare was form again. Pamela and Catherine formed the First Baptist Church Denbigh Child Development Center, that is now an accredited school. 

Catherine was also a consultant for the Head Start Advisory Board in Newport News.  She assisted the State Department of Virginia in Workshops for Food Services.  From 1973-1979 she created and was an in-service trainer for Directors and Cooks for Peninsula Daycare Centers for the Virginia Department of Welfare-Child Care Division.  She taught Food and Nutrition Classes for Elementary School teachers in the Newport News Public Schools. 

Catherine had Alzheimer’s for 25 years.  She leaves to cherish her memories her daughter Pamela, son-in-law John, her siblings: Virginia Nemore, Ruth Redd, Eugene Mosley, Leroy Mosley, Kenneth Mosley, Melvin Mosley, and Joyce Ann Mosley, two sisters-in-law: Catherine Johnson and Lillian Heard, her  best friend Delores Hawkins-Harrison and godson Jasper (Jack) Hawkins.  She had 9 adopted daughters that helped to care for her over the years: Avis Lilly, Deidra Smith, Teresa Andrews, Harvella Brownson, Trina Roots, Loretta Wright, Jamika Baltrop, Cheryl Watson , and Joyce Pope. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Catherine Easter, please visit our floral store.