SPRINGFIELD CENTER - Alvenia V. Sullivan, 89, of state Route 80, formerly of Colonia, N.J., passed away Friday afternoon, March 27, 2009, in Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown. She was born on July 10, 1919, in Fayetteville, N.C., daughter of the late Abel and Fannie Peacock Wooten. Alvenia was raised in Fayetteville when it was a segregated city, and was a graduate of Fayetteville State College. She was the first in her family to attend college and continued her education at Columbia Teachers College, where she graduated with a master's degree in education. In 1942, she was united in marriage with Clyde Eugene Sullivan when they eloped to South Carolina. They shared a loving and devoted union of 41 years until Mr. Sullivan died in 1983. For 40 years, she was employed by the Newark Board of Education, first as a elementary school teacher and in later years as a school principal in the Newark education system, retiring in 1987. An enthusiastic and tireless educator, she was committed to literacy and spent many hours teaching others to read. Mrs. Sullivan had a strong belief in God and was a devoted member of St Paul's Episcopal Church in Rahway, N.J. and St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Springfield Center. She sang in the St. Paul's Church Choir for many years. She was a member of the Suburban Ladies Music Study Club and also a devoted member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the League of Women Voters. Mrs. Sullivan continued her work with area youth in New Jersey after her retirement, and was recognized for her true sense of community by being appointed to the Special Advocate Juvenile Conference by the court in Woodbridge, NJ. To all who knew her, Alvenia could only be described as a kind and caring friend and neighbor and a lady with class who always looked her best and owned clothing in every shade of red. She was always there to help others when she was needed. To her children, she leaves the cherished memories growing up in a loving home and the aroma of warm, sweet cookies and brownies. She also loved to garden, raising beautiful perennials. Until she was in her 80s, she was still gardening and cutting down small trees with her chainsaw. She knew how to keep Christmas well, if anyone alive possessed the knowledge. She will be truly missed. Surviving are her daughter, Gretchen Sullivan Sorin, and her husband, Martin, of Springfield Center; two grandchildren, Meredith Sorin, of New York City, and Gregory Sorin, of Geneseo; Richard Harveston, who she thought of as a son, and dear friends and movie companions, Florence and John Carnahan. She also leaves behind a host of dear friends. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Glen Gary Sullivan, in 1992, a brother, Richard Wooten, and a sister, Nell Carroll. Funeral services with Holy Eucharist will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 18, in The Church of Good Shepherd (formerly St. Paul's Episcopal Church), Rahway. The Rev. Salvadore Ros, rector, will officiate. Committal service will follow in Woodbridge Memorial Gardens. A memorial service will be held locally later at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Springfield Center. Memorial donations may be made to the Church of Good Shepherd, 80 Elm Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065 or St. Mary's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 376, Springfield Center, 13468. Funeral arrangements are with J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, Richfield Springs.