Bertha Lane, 91, of Sarasota, Florida, left her Earthly home on Monday, January 23, 2023. Visitation will be held at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 2504 Gillespie Avenue, Sarasota, FL, on Sunday, February 5, 2023, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM. Homegoing Services will take place on Monday, February 6, 2023, at 10:00 AM at New Bethel M.B. Church. The Interment is scheduled for 2:00 PM, at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL 34241.
The birth of Bertha Jean Lane was a joyous occasion. Her grand entry into the world was on March 23, 1931, in Forest Mississippi. She was the firstborn child from the union of Willie and Julia Flowers. She grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and graduated from the historical Booker T. Washington High School. After graduation, she, her loving sister (the late Josie Muriel Gaines), along with their grandmother Robirda and her beloved aunt and role model Marzetta, moved to Sarasota, Florida. Here she met and married William Lane and raised two children Wendell and Marlene Lane.
Bertha was a devoted and valued employee at JCPenney department store, giving 29 and a half years of service. A skilled seamstress, she was coordinator for the Sewing Department. And, with a passion for decor, she delighted in overseeing the Home Department, where luggage and lamps were her specialty. Eventually, she was elevated to Merchandise Coordinator, which included training new associates in Customer Service and in proficiency with the cash register. She became recognized as the company’s “go to” person. As such, her worth to the company increased, causing store managers to often call upon her for assistance in various store matters.
For over 72 years, Sis. Lane was a dedicated member of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. She was instrumental in introducing many of her family members to Jesus Christ. Over the years, she has served as the church secretary and regularly assisted with Junior Mission. She was honored by the Youth and Children’s Mission department for “Outstanding Service” in 1991. The church recognized her as a “2022 New Bethel Historian nominee.”
Mrs. Lane loved and cherished her family, friends and community. During one period, she, along with her sister, served as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, mentoring young women, with the mission of “Building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place”. She was known for welcoming her grandchildren, their friends and others in the community into her home, when they needed a place to live – regardless of their situation. Her home was affectionately dubbed the “ultimate safe place”. That open heartedness established her as a pillar in the Newtown Community. She was honored by The Business and Professional Women of North Sarasota (BPW), and crowned Woman of the Year, in 2012 – an event she cherished for the rest of her life.
It gave her great joy to actively support her grandchildren in their endeavors. She also gained enjoyment from attending family reunions, class reunions, sewing, entertaining and cheering for the Buccaneers. She took pleasure, with great passion in decorating her home to match the changing seasons.
Bertha Jean Lane leaves to cherish her memories her children Wendell Eugene Lane of Sarasota and Marlene Lane of Houston; nine (9) grandchildren; nineteen (19) great-grandchildren; five (5) great-great grandchildren; sisters: Emma Davis and Gwen Broughton of Chicago, and brother Pat Collier, Jr. of Chicago; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.