Baltimore Sun; Baltimore MD; 2001-4-8

Iantha Augusta Lake, 83, city educator who wrote poetry, was world traveler

Iantha Augusta Lake, a retired Baltimore public school educator and poet
who proved a powerful influence in the lives of her three daughters,
died Monday of congestive heart failure at Biddy Assisted Living in
Columbia. She was 83.  Mrs. Lake, who formerly lived in the Hanover
Square Apartments, placed a heavy emphasis on education and was proud
that all her daughters earned doctorates.  "She always believed that an
education was the key to a fulfilling life," said a daughter, Mabel Lake
Murray of Randallstown, a retired Carroll County educator on the staff of
Sojourner-Douglass College.  Born Iantha Augusta Alexander in Baltimore,
Mrs. Lake was reared by relatives after the death of her mother. She
attended Baltimore public schools and graduated in 1935 from Frederick
Douglass High School's evening division.  She later earned a diploma
from the Evening Vocational School in dressmaking and began working as a
seamstress, making dresses and coats in her home for her daughters and
neighborhood children. Mrs. Lake lived for years at McCulloh Homes and
raised her family there.  "She made all of our clothes, and we'd bounce
down the streets dressed in matching starched dresses. People always
said she could make three perfect dresses out of one potato sack," said
Mrs. Murray.  In the 1950s, Mrs. Lake attended the National Recreation
Association Training Institute in Washington and later worked for the
city Department of Recreation and Parks, managing recreation centers.
But it was a desire to teach that led Mrs. Lake to earn her bachelor's
degree from Coppin State College in 1973 and become certified to teach.
She had begun teaching elementary school pupils at Park Heights Elementary
School in 1968 and later taught at the old Louisa May Alcott Elementary
School, from which she retired in 1983.  A petite woman who stood 4 feet,
11 inches, Mrs. Lake could be a formidable presence.  "She was a feisty
and determined little lady. When she set her lips, that was it. You
knew you were in trouble, or about to be," Mrs. Murray said fondly.
Jannette Lake Dates of Mount Washington, dean of Howard University's
School of Communication, recalled a weekly ritual when she and her
sisters were growing up. "Every Saturday morning, she'd walk us down to
the Enoch Pratt Library on Cathedral Street, and in we'd go through the
children's entrance," said Mrs. Dates.  "Before we were 5 years old, she
told us we were going to college to be teachers. She'd lived through the
Depression and remembered that teachers worked, and it was a job that
represented security," she said.  For years, Mrs. Lake enjoyed writing
poetry, sitting at a table in her home and carefully typing on a black
Remington typewriter. She later bound and presented the poetry to her
children.  In her poem, "Eyeglasses," she wrote: Those things annoy me
terribly, And others too might agree.  We must adjust to them though,
If we really want to see.  In her poem, "Is It Dope," she questions the
value of medicine.  Should I take the medicines Hoping to get well -
Or depend on food and rest - While I hurt like hell?  Mrs. Lake was
an avid world traveler.  Her marriage to Moses Lake ended in divorce.
A memorial service was held yesterday.  In addition to her daughters,
she is survived by another daughter, Iantha Lake Tucker of Columbia;
six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.



Howard County Times; Columbia MD; 2001-4-12

Iantha A.A. Lake

Iantha Augusta Alexander Lake died April 2 at her home in Columbia. She
was 83.

Born in Baltimore on Nov. 5, 1917, she was the second child of the late
Mabel S. and Edgar B. Alexander.

She graduated from Frederick Douglass High School and later received a
diploma in dressmaking from the Evening Vocational School.

Her daughters attended her graduation ceremony wearing clothes that she
had created.

She attended the National Recreational Association Training Institute
and became a director for several recreation centers for Baltimore's
recreation department.

After a public speaking course she took at Baltimore Community College,
Mrs.  Lake decided to take courses in elementary education at Towson
State College, her daughter, Iantha Tucker, said. She later earned a
bachelor's degree from Coppin State College and taught in elementary
schools in Baltimore.

Her experience at School 14 was one of her most rewarding, her daughter
said.

Ms. Tucker said her mother believed that education was the key to a
fulfilling life and she encouraged her children to pursue the very best
education had to offer.

Mrs. Lake loved to travel and took trips to Atlantic City, Hawaii,
Las Vegas, California and Alaska.

As a young woman she was a member of Mount Olivet Christian Church.

In addition to Ms. Tucker, Mrs. Lake is survived by daughters Mabel L.
Murray and Jannette L. Dates; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren;
and sons-in-law Teddy Murray and Victor Dates.

She was predeceased by her husband, Moses Lake.

A memorial service was held April 7 at Slayton House.