Mrs. Lee Elsenia Porterfield went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at the age of 93 years. Elsenia was born April 7, 1925 in Marlin, Texas the daughter of Lethaniel and Arlean (Hardeman) King. Elsenia moved to Saginaw at a young age with her family.
Elsenia was a graduate of Saginaw High School, “Class of 1943”. She married Henry McCarthy Porterfield, Sr They were the proud parents of two children, Henry McCarthy Porterfield, Jr. and Henrenee Darlene (Brown) Porterfield.
Lee Elsenia was a humanitarian and spent her life giving back to her community. It was second nature for her to help others however; she was uncomfortable doing something just for herself. Her giving nature was based on the belief that, “But for the grace of God go I”, I Corinthian 15:8-10.
She took to heart, Matthew 25:40 (KJV)”And the King shall answer and say unto thee, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”. In June of 1962, Elsenia and Henry became foster parents after an announcement was made at Henry’s church, (St. Joseph Catholic Church) that the community needed foster parents. They were foster parents to many sons and daughters.
Elsenia was a foster parent for over 50 years. As a foster parent Elsenia made sure every child was treated as family, worked hard in school and attended church weekly. She was certified to care for five children long term and obtained additional certification to care for babies born prematurely.
In 1967, she and her family started the Friendship Awards at Saginaw High School and later added the Porterfield Scholarship. Each year ten or more students received a financial award for giving back to their community. In 2003, Elsenia expanded the award to Nouvel Catholic Central and in subsequent years the award was expanded to Buena Vista High School.
The awards and scholarships as a thank you from Elsenia to the recipients for making the Saginaw community a better place. She was a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church for over 60 years, where she was a member of the Senior Choir, the Usher Board Number One, she was a teacher of Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and Confirmation Class Instructor. In 1986 she was named one of the Saginawian’s of the year for her volunteer work with Special Olympics and being a foster parent.
In her spare time, she would crochet Afghans and would give them away as gifts and awards for those who helped their community. She gave away over 400 afghans. Elsenia became a member of the Saginaw Human Planning Commission, Voter Registrar and Saginaw County Red Cross.
She was a recipient of the Finer Womanhood Award presented by Zeta Omega Zeta Chapter, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc She was a member of the NAACP and the Girls Scouts of America. Elsenia is survived by her two children, Henry M. (Doris Jean) Porterfield and Henrenee Darlene Brown; four grandchildren, Henry McCarthy (Elizabeth Ann) Porterfield, John Howard Porterfield II, Jason Lamar Porterfield and Kenyona Chree Harmon; seven great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Margaret (Jesse) Oates; one god-daughter, Chanel Hilary Logan, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Porterfield was preceded in death by her husband, Henry M. Porterfield; her parents, Lethaniel and Arlean (Hardeman) King; two sisters, Sallie Ruth Kendrick-King and Constance Hardeman; two brothers, Lawrence Easter and Lee King, her grandmother, Beaula Evans and other relatives. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mrs. Lee Elsenia Porterfield please visit our Sympathy Store.
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