Friday, May 18, 201211:00 a.m.TRINITY AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH631 East Florida StreetGreensboro, North Carolina The Reverend Dr. Michael A. Frencher, Pastor, OfficiatingAlbertine Corry Hickman was born in Cherokee County, SC on August 23, 1921, one of 10 children of the late Rev. Clarence Corry and his wife Leila Borders Corry. Albertine died peacefully on Monday, May 14, 2012 at Heartland Living and Rehabilitation surrounded by her family. She grew up mostly in Cleveland County, NC, graduating from John Chavis High School in Cherryville, NC. She earned degrees from Morristown Junior College in Morristown, TN, Fayetteville State Teachers College in Fayetteville, NC, and N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro, NC.Albertine was a determined and devoted student willing to make many sacrifices to achieve her goal of completing college and becoming a teacher. She taught for 30 years in North Carolina Schools before her retirement, mostly in the primary grades. She was proud to have been one of the original faculty members at F.D. Bluford School but she also taught at David D. Jones and Claxton Elementary as well as Boiling Springs, NC earlier in her career.Albertine moved to Greensboro with her husband Charles and they added a daughter to their little family. There was always celebration around the fact that Albertine and her daughter shared a birthday. She joined Trinity AME Zion Church and became active in Sunday School and Bible School and anything that involved children. Over her more than 50 active years at Trinity she decorated bathrooms, made robes for the childrenâ??s choir, produced plays with her Sunday School class, sang in the Sanctuary Choir, was a staunch member of the Annie Blackwell Club, was a member of numerous boards and committees relating to education, planted flowers, and generally did what was needed. Her greatest joy always seemed to come from working with children and seeing them blossom and grow.Albertine was a gardener extraordinaire, raising vegetables and flowers with an unrivaled green thumb. And of course, after raising those vegetables, she could certainly cook them as no one else possibly could. She also took pride in her sewing abilities. Though she never referred to herself as a seamstress, she did work for a while doing alterations at the old Ellis Stone and continued to make many of her own clothes and clothes for her daughter and granddaughter for many years.Albertine enjoyed playing pinochle and was a member of the Ever Achieving Retired Teachers Club that allowed her to get in some regular playing time. She served a term as an officer of the Ladies Auxiliary of the North Carolina Negro Law Enforcement Officers Association. She was a member of the Silhouettes (Kappa wives), and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.Albertine faced obstacles throughout her life with a special courage, never backing down, never giving up. She grew up on a farm where hard work was the norm rather than the exception. She worked full time taking care of a family and their children to finance her first two years of college. She proudly marched with her husband and daughter during the Civil Rights marches of the 1960s in support of what she felt was right. When they chose not to arrest her, she volunteered to serve as a jailhouse matron so she could help look out for some of the many young girls who had been jailed. Later in life she dealt with illnesses and losses that were devastating blows. Some of the battles may have taken their toll, but she persevered nonetheless. She always held on to that little bit of special strength even when everything seemed to fall apart. Perhaps that special strength was faith, instilled by her father and mother when she was but a child. Whatever it was, it sustained her for these ninety years. And now that Albertine is allowed to seek her rest, she will be lovingly remembered by her daughter and son-in-law Greta Gail and Len Teasdale, her grandchildren Angela Joi and Dr. Anthony Charles Teasdale, her brother, the Rev. Dr. John G. Corry and his wife Attorney Shirley, her sister Janol Corry Whitfield and her husband, Fred W., 2 sisters-in-law Margaret Hickman Smith and Jean Smith Hickman, and a host of nieces, nephews, and others relatives and friends.