Bertha Pratt

Bertha Genevieve Hines Pratt was born April 12, 1926 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  This lifelong native of Pittsburgh, passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2020 at her daughter's home in Atlanta.  Bertha was ninety-three years old.  She was the third child of the late Booker T. Hines and Edna Mae Garrett Hines.  Bertha had two older brothers Willus "Sonny" and and Edward "Eddie" Hines and a younger sister Athelda Dolores Hines Hanna.  Bertha and her siblings were raised by their grandmother, Bertha Johnson Mann, "Bait" as affectionatel called  Bertha married the late Daniel Pratt and this union produced five daughters:  Arnetta Spencer *deceased), Dannielle "Dannie" Goodson, Lorraine "Renie" Pratt, Dolores "Tenie" Chandler and Charlene "Charlie" Pratt.

She attended Pittsburgh public schools and later in life went on to study Bookkeeping and Accounting at a local business school where she achieved Certification.  Upon the death of her husband, she managed for over thirty-years their real estate properties consisting of homes, businesses and apartment buildings.  She resigned after over forty years of employment as Office Manager and Bookkeeper for "Mister" Sanders, owner of Sanjoy Trucking.  She always showed Mister Sanders respect and demanded the truck rivers address him as "Mister" as well.  After the death of Mrs. Sanders, Bertha stepped in as surrogate mother to their eleven children.

In her leisure, she was an exceptional bridge player participating in bridge clubs throughout the Pittsburgh area for almost sixty years.  Her most faithful friend and bridge partner for over fifty-six years was Mrs. Mildred Glenn; her endeared buddy.  Bertha was member of National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc., Order of the Eastern Stars, The Modern Grand Mothers Club of Pittsburgh, Two Clubs Bridge club and Lamplighters.  She also regularly attended African American social events, Sororities' events and card parties.  You could count on Bertha picking-up and dropping-off elderly acquaintances who would otherwise not have transportation to attend many of the events.

Bertha was family oriented and maintained a low profile, never needing to be in the forefront or praised for her achievements.  Yet, she was always eager to help anyone when called upon.  Aside from enjoying time with her family, her favorite personal entertainment was listening to music by Ray Charles and watching Matlock over and over and over again.

Though small in stature, she stood tall i her role as head of the family, never shrugging her responsibilities of supporting her daughters and grandchildren.  Upon the early death of her husband, she was steadfast encouraging her family to always do better.  As matriarch of five living generations and forty-three descendants, her strong will and determined personality formed an invaluable impression on their lives.

In sorrow and strength, she endured the early death of her husband, oldest daughter and five grandsons William Dowdell, Daniel Beard, Glenn, Tyrone, and Patrick Williams.  Left to mourn her loss are four daughters, seven granddaughters's Moncella Dowdell, Michele Morris, Camille Mangham, Clenda Beard Davis, Leslie BRown, Sonja Ausstin and Robin Cook, as well as, a son-in-love James Chandler, grandsons-in-love Ramone Davis, David Brown and Damian Austin; sixteen great grandchildren, Ciera, Phillip, Chaz, Zoie Wesley, Micha, Mia, Daniel, Dorian, Jasmine, Steven, Hayley, David Monica and husband Stephen, April and Drew; ten great, great grandchildren, Daniel, Layla, Danny, Demetrius, Dillon, Kendal, Kameron, Kenzley, Autumn and Ayden.

Also left to mourn are her beloved sister Dolores and husband James Hanna, their children Eric, Everett and Athelda, cousin Joyce Scott, a niece Barbara Murphy and her children Tracy Fountain and Pamela Foster, Pam's husband Anthony and their families.  There are a host of extended family and friends that loved Bertha and will sincerely miss remember her as a personable and unforgettable strong woman.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bertha Pratt, please visit our floral store.