Last month, fifteen members of Southport Presbyterian Church joined Lena Fisher as she celebrated her 88th birthday at Universal Health Care Center in Bolivia. During this Aug. 19 visit, all fifteen wore masks, practiced social distancing, carried signs and banners and honored Lena outside as she sat in the lobby on the other side of the front door. She received cards, gifts, flowers, a balloon, and a Hummingbird cake (Lena’s favorite) made by Burney’s Bakery of Southport. A wonderful time was had by all!

Lena is bit of a legend in our area. She was born in Southport to Velma and Worth Ward. When she was very young, her family relocated to Maine where her father was stationed in the Coast Guard. Her family moved back into the family home on Atlantic Street in Southport when Lena was 8 years old. The house dates back to 1892 and was built by her great grandfather and occupied by her family for four generations. When she was 10 years old, Lena became a big sister to her only sibling, Sally, who now lives with her husband Ron in Bolivia. Lena attended school in Southport and loved playing basketball for Southport High School.

She met and married the love of her life G.W. Fisher, a Navy Veteran, whom she affectionately called “G”. He was a commercial fisherman and named his shrimp boat the “Lena W”. He also managed the local ABC Store. During their 48 years of marriage, Lena and G.W. lived in the family home on Atlantic Street. G.W. died in 2002 and is buried in the Northwood Cemetery.
Lena baked a delicious pound cake but has a special fondness for Hummingbird Cake. She loved flowers and enjoyed spending time working in her yard. She also loved cats owning two Maine Coon cats when she was younger. Later she fed and cared for two neighborhood cats whom she named Tiger and Nosey. Lena was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Order of the Eastern Star.

Lena has always described herself as a “numbers person”. She worked as an accountant on Bald Head, riding the ferry to and from the island for many years. She then worked at Brunswick Community College, first at the Southport Campus and then at the main campus in Bolivia as administrative assistant for the VP of Finance. She joined the Southport Presbyterian Church in 1979 where she served as both the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. In 2012 Lena was awarded the Southport Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership.

Lena has faced numerous challenges during her lifetime and has handled them with courage. Her deep faith in God and her marvelous sense of humor continue to be sources of strength as she celebrates her 88th birthday during the Covid-19 pandemic.