Funeral services were held February 17, 2014, at Springhill M.B. Church for Mrs. Vestella Armstrong Albert, 86, who died February 10 at Jeff Davis Extended Care Facility. Rev. Vicky Hill officiated with interment following in the church cemetery. Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Vestella Albert was born to the late Oliver and Rose Anna Armstrong and was raised by her stepmother, Lee Mattie Armstrong, due to her mother’s death when she was four year’s old. “Puddin” as she was known, was the eighth of 11 children. She accepted Christ at an early age at Springhill M.B. Church. She attended school in Prentiss, including Prentiss Institute. She married and moved to Chicago, Illinois, in her early twenties. She was an employee of Montgomery Ward for 49 years. She joined Greater Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois, in the 1960s. She was on the nurse’s board, pastor’s aide committee, culinary committee and was the treasurer of the July birthday club. She was also a member and treasurer of the Chicago Prentiss Club for many years.

She was preceded in death by stepmother, Lee Mallie; daughter, Shirley; two sisters, Lonie and Irene; three brothers, Forcie, Hubert and Howard.

She is survived by daughter, Linda (Micheal) Caldwell of Los Angeles, CA; sons, William (Pam) of Prentiss and Willard (Frieda) of Brooklyn, NY; brothers, Gerley Annstrong of Los Angeles, CA, Lonnie (Helen) Armstrong of Berkeley, CA, and Jerry Armstrong of Los Angeles, CA; sisters, Arlena Oatis of Milwaukee, WI, and Lee Etta (Wilbert) Smith of Compton, CA; sister-in-law, Josie Armstrong of Los Angeles, CA; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and cousins; sister- friend, Annie L. Hunter; and ‘like her daughters’ Rhonda Fay Yancy and Rita Jackson.