Alfreda V. Calbert

Alfreda Valoris Calbert went home to Jesus on July 4, 2021, at age 100.  Alfreda was born to Melissa Davis Carter and Robert Marino on April 1, 1921, in Daphne Alabama. As an only child, she often traveled between Daphne and Carlton, Alabama to visit relatives and play with her cousins.

Alfreda met her husband, Cosby Calbert at the hospital where she worked part-time while attending Tuskegee University. Cosby was a patient recovering from wounds he received fighting in WWII. They married in 1942 and went on to have 6 children, Andrew, Crystal, Cosby Jr, Jerri, Timothy, and Russell. They ultimately moved their family to the Madisonville community located in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In addition to being a dedicated and loving mother, Alfreda also loved to work in her garden. Throughout her entire life, she held an unwavering faith in God, which she shared with those who surrounded her. She was a member of Greater Liberty Baptist Church for 75 years serving as a member of the Missionary Society, Senior Choir, a Deaconess, and taught Sunday School.

Alfreda also continued her education at UC in the college of Education. She took two classes each semester and caught two busses to and from work.  After her husband passed away, with great tenacity she learned to drive at age 57 through the Auto Club driving school. She kept the new driver sign in the back window of her Maverick long after she became a confident driver.  She never used the expressways but was determined to get to work every day on time. Alfreda taught in the Hamilton County Developmentally Disabled system for 25 years. Alfreda always said “never ever give up. God will make a way.” She demonstrated to all of us a spirit of faith, perseverance, fortitude, and a strong belief that if you take one step, God will take the next.

Alfreda joins her mother and father, husband Cosby Calbert Sr., daughters Crystal Bossard and Jerri Calbert; son Russell Calbert, stepson Andrew Calbert, grandson Cosby Calbert III, and granddaughters Camille (Bossard) White and Deborah Abraham in Heaven. She is survived by her sons Cosby Eugene Calbert Jr., Timothy Calbert, and Lois Calbert (daughter-in-law); six grandchildren, Nicole Bossard, Tiffany (Calbert) & Stephen Collins, Russell Calbert Jr, Courtney Calbert, Loretta Elston, fourteen great grandchildren, Niyana (Bossard) Kelly, Andre Bossard, Ashley Bossard, Vanessa Bossard, Shantel Neely, Keya Neely, Eric Neely, Malia Collins, Stephen Collins II, Joshua Collins, and Isaiah Collins, Joseph Calbert, Jeanette Hunter, Shanda Hunter;  three great great grandchildren Ka’Ari Bossard, Jessica Hunter, and D’Angelo Jones.

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