Elizabeth Pathenia Alston

Elizabeth Pathenia Alston (Dank) was given the gift of life on
December 6, 1938 in Johnston County, NC. She was born to the late
Chalmas and Emma Brooks. Dank was reared in North Carolina and as
a young adult migrated to Washington, D.C., where she lived for over 50
years.
While living in Washington, D.C. Dank became very involved in her
community. She obtained several awards for her hard work and service at
the Greater South East Hospital. However, her greatest achievement was
being a mother to her seven children, 22 grandchildren and all of the
children and grandchildren she adopted over the years. Dank was known
for her sharp wit and even sharper tongue. She was the always the first
person to dance at a party and her infectious spirit would move everyone
else to dance along too. She was honest to her core and shared that
honesty, even when others were not receptive. Dank loved to keep a
clean home. She took the adage "cleanliness is next to Godliness" to
heart. She used bleach by the gallon and it's been said that she would
take clean clothes out of the closet, just to wash them again. She
cherished the "smell of clean." She also loved to cook for her family and
no one can forget the taste of her "donut cornbread."
Family was always her top priority. When it came to family, she never
had a closed hand or a closed door. She fearlessly moved to
Washington, D.C alone, and that bold step prompted the migration of
several of her brothers and sisters to the Washington, D.C. area. In fact,
several family members that moved to Washington lived with her until
they were ready and able to make it on their own. She was smart,
resourceful, and she gifted others with the knowledge to make it in "the
city." Desmond Tutu said "You don't' choose your family. They are
God's gift to you, as you are to them." Dank's life and love continue to be
a gift to us all.
Preceeding her in death was her long-time companion Willie "Cliff"
Bunkley (Playboy); two grandsons Melvin Pate & Kelton Campbell;
siblings Beatrice Williams, Linda Atkinson, Norman (Snowball), Harry
(Big Boy), Emma Mae, Irene, Ivan (Alberta), Willie, Linwood (Lin),
Robert & James Earl Brooks.
Dank, leaves to cherish and celebrate her life, Cecelia "Tan" (Billy)
Pettiway, Robert "Boomerang" (Fonda) Brooks, Kenneth (Monica)
Alston, Angela Alston, Gloria Alston, Lawrence "Pa" (Doris) Alston &
Felicia Pate; two sisters Inez Bryant & Rosa Bullock; one brother Charles
Brooks; five In-Laws, Doris Brooks, Josephine Brooks, Mary McKnight,
Dorothy Brooks & Earl Atkinson; twenty-two grandchildren, 55
great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.