Lorenne Newton Jefferson, former Lewes resident

Lorenne Newton Jefferson, 88, of Columbia, Md., died of natural causes Tuesday, July 3, 2012.

Mrs. Jefferson was born in South Carolina to J. H. and Roberta Newton. She was married to William S. Jefferson Sr., who predeceased her in 1998. She was active in the community, including volunteering for the Howard County General Hospital Auxiliary.

Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson were residents of Lewes from 1945 until 1967 where Mr. Jefferson was employed as vice president of Sussex Trust Company.

Mrs. Jefferson, along with her husband and family, were considered to be “Pioneers of Columbia,” taking up residence in the new city in 1967 when Mr. Jefferson opened The Columbia Bank & Trust Company in the Wilde Lake Village Center.

She is survived by her sisters Thelma McCarthy of Mt. Pleasant, S.C and Rachel Broome of Santa Monica, Calif. ; her brothers Robert Newton (Gail), and Norman (Marlene) Newton of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and James Morris Newton of Milwaukee, Ore; her sons William S. Jefferson Jr. (Linda) and Robert N. Jefferson (Lynda) of Virginia, and C. Alan Jefferson (Mary) of Ellicott City, Md.; her grandchildren Andrea Jefferson, Christopher Jefferson, Amanda Jefferson and David Jefferson; and her great-grandchildren Kyle and Ava Schleicher and Emily Jefferson; along with many nieces and nephews.

An internment service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Elkridge, Md. on a future date. The family suggests that memorials be made in her memory to the Rotary Club of Columbia Patuxent Endowment Fund, P O Box 1292, Columbia, MD 21044.