Lela Elizabeth Caroline Rumley Warren passed away at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Friday, May 10, 2013 at the age of 103.

She was the youngest of five children born to the late Charles and Ophelia Rumley in Asheville, North Carolina on September 1, 1909.

She attended Buncombe County public schools and graduated from Stephens-Lee High School. She attended Hampton Institute, and then, Winston-Salem Teachers College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1938. She attended NC College for Negroes, now North Carolina Central University, receiving a BS degree in Library Science in 1945. She furthered her studies at the University of Connecticut.

Lela began her teaching career at Pleasant Grove Elementary School in Alamance County. She married William Robert Rodman Warren in 1945. The couple had a son, William Robert Rodman Warren, Jr.

Lela worked at Elon Elementary School and later moved to Asheville. She worked for and retired from the Asheville City School System. She returned to Graham to live in the 80’s and in 1991, moved to Winston-Salem. She was “Nana” and the first babysitter to her new grandson, “Little Roddy” in 1992.

She was a member of Berry Temple United Methodist Church in Asheville and First Baptist Church in Graham, North Carolina. She attended St. Paul United Methodist Church when she moved to Winston-Salem. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Lela Elizabeth Caroline Rumley Warren is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Rod and Reba; grandsons, Roddy, Reid and Raines; niece, Jacqueline Rumley of Pontiac, MI; nephew, Richard Rumley (Ruby) of Upatoi, GA; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at First Baptist Church, 420 N. Maple Street, Graham, NC. Interment will follow in Linwood Cemetery in Graham. The family will greet friends at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 17, 2013 at First Baptist Church, 700 N. Highland Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC.