Delena Elmira Brehon Tanner was born September 17,1933 to the late Mary and Joseph Brehon in Norfolk, Virginia. She was the last of twelve siblings. Delena, 85, went on to glory on Monday, March 18, 2019 at Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. She is survived by nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

She was educated and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia. After high school, Delena attended Norfolk Division of Virginia State College (Now Norfolk State University), earning a diploma in General Business in May 1952. While there, she met and married Sanford Perkins.

After the death of her parents, she relocated to Washington, D.C. where her oldest sister, Vernice Howell, lived. While in Washington, D.C., she worked in the Investigation Division of Civil Service for the Federal Government. Later, she worked at the Ethiopian Embassy as Secretary to the Secretary of the Ambassador of Ethiopia.

In the 1960's, Delena moved to California. While there she became the secretary to the dean of U.C.L.A. She met and married Robert Robinson. After twenty years away from home, Delena returned to Norfolk, Virginia.

She soon became a secretary in the College of Business and Public Administration at Old Dominion University. There Delena worked until retirement in 1998.

Later, she moved into a retirement home, Tucker House. It was there that she met and married Clarence Tanner. After a few years, the couple's health began to fail. Mr. Tanner moved to Oregon with his son. Delena remained at Tucker House, residing there for a total of 16 years.

She enjoyed her weekly calls from nephew George Chauncey Brehon who resides in Tampa, Florida. As children, they were born days apart, lived in the same home, and attended school together. Her oldest niece, Cora Wilson-Walters often chatted with her from Aberdeen, Maryland.

Nephews Karlton Gay, James Brehon, Jr., and Tony Brehon often visited and ran errands for her. As her health declined, nieces Avis Sutton, Irene Clark and her husband Wesley came over weekly to bring meals and do other chores to care for her. In December 2018, after hospitalization, Delena was moved to Chesapeake Health and Rehabilitation Center in order to receive rehabilitation and nursing care.

A memorial service will be held 12 noon Saturday at Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, Chesapeake. Interment will follow at Roosevelt Memorial Park.