Obituary of Edith Mae Bligen

Mrs. Edith Mae Bligen “Mother B”, daughter of the late Jacob T. and Blanche E. Johnson was born October 13, 1934 in Scottsville, Virginia. She was the fifth born out of six children. She attended the Albemarle County School System in Charlottesville, VA. At an early age, she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined St. John’s Baptist Church. Shortly after completing High School, she moved to New Jersey and continued her Christian walk by joining Calvary Baptist Church in East Orange, New Jersey where she was a dedicated member. At Calvary Baptist Church, she served faithfully as a member of the Usher Board and the Nurse’s Ministry. She was united in holy matrimony to the late Arthur Bligen Sr. on July 20, 1958. This union was blessed with two children. Arthur Bligen Sr. preceded her in death on March 16, 1978. Edith was employed as an Educator with the East Orange School System for over 30 years. Her favorite of all pastimes was watching Westerns and various programs on television. She especially loved watching the “Price Is Right” and she en- joyed reading books by James Patterson. Edith was a mother to everyone, affectionately known as “Mother B”. She loved attention from her family and her for- mer students who visited her often. She loved her family and enjoyed playing games such as Chinese Checkers, Dominos, Pick Up Sticks and Family Bingo and she provided prizes also. She enjoyed going to the Chinese Auction and traveling, but she didn’t like to fly. She loved jewelry especially her rings. Edith’s spirit of love, devotion and caring towards her family and everyone she met was an inspiration to everyone with whom she interacted. Edith departed this life on August 17, 2020 at East Orange General Hospital in East Orange, N.J. She was preceded in death by two brothers, John H. Johnson and Rudolph T. Johnson and two sisters, Elsie Moon and Blanche Fleming. Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her children: John R. “Skip”(Ruthie) Bligen of Irvington, NJ, David H. “Chub”(Sabrina) Bligen of Morrow, GA; God- Daughter Yolanda Ming; 2 “Bonus Sons”; Mark Tanner Sr. and Chris McCray; Sister, Ruth Payne (Carl) of Silver Springs, M.D.; six grandchildren, Shana, Brea, Shonda, LaDell, Deija, Deira; three great grandchildren; Sean, Kai, JayLani; a host of devoted family and friends. “Those we Love don't go away, they walk beside us Everyday. Unseen, Unheard but Always Near....So Loved, So Missed, So Very Dear”