Lena Mae Bruster (Webb)

Our beloved mother was born on April 30, 1936, in Topeka, Kansas, to the union of Augustus T. Webb Sr. and Thelma Watson. She was raised in Rosedale, Kansas, where she completed her formal education. Introduced to God at an early age by her mother, she attended a missionary church in Rosedale. After relocating to Kansas City, Missouri, she joined Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend C.L. Williams. A dedicated usher and active participant in many church programs, she remained a faithful member until her health began to decline in 2019. 

Early in life, our mother married Richard Hill Sr., and four children were born to this union. After divorcing Mr. Hill, she later married John Perkins Sr., with whom she had four more children. Following her divorce from Mr. Perkins, she married Mr. Arlvelt Bruster, and together they welcomed three children. Through life’s challenges, our mother remained a strong Christian woman who raised her eleven children to trust in God always. Mama was a successful entrepreneur, owning and operating three restaurants under the name Lena’s Family Dining from the 1970s through the late 1990s. The first restaurant was located on the corner of 35th & Troost, the second inside the “Conference Cove” off 31st & Troost, and the last on the corner of 31st and Spruce. In 1998, her restaurant was voted Best Soul Food Restaurant. Mama’s establishments were not just places to eat but community hubs where city politicians and ministers often gathered to discuss local issues over breakfast and dinner. In addition to her business endeavors, Mama was deeply involved in her community. She participated in organizations such as the Southeast Bar Association, the Black Businesswomen’s Association, and briefly as an Eastern Star. 

During the 1960s and 1970s, she also modeled hats for a local milliner on 18th & Main. Always striving for growth, Mama returned to school later in life to study Senior Care. She earned her Certified Nursing Certificate (CNA) and became licensed in Kansas, where she established her own hospice in-home care service. For over 20 years, she provided compassionate care to those in need, embodying the values of respect and dignity she taught her children. Mama’s work ethic and dedication touched countless lives, and she always reminded us to treat everyone with kindness, as life’s journey is unpredictable. Mama loved to dance, sing gospel songs, and share laughter with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family was her greatest joy. She also had a passion for football, especially cheering on her Kansas City Chiefs. Known for her generosity, Mama often helped strangers without expecting anything in return, knowing that Heaven would be her final reward. 

On November 10, 2024, at 2:30 PM, God sent His angels to bring our mother home to Heaven, where she received her wings. She was preceded in death by her three husbands, her sons Richard Hill Jr., Marvin Hill, and Damon Bruster; her grandchildren Richard Hughes and Taylor Hill; and her siblings Maxine Henderson, Claire Williams, Gertrude Strickland, Augustus Webb Jr., Thelma Ann Cushon, and Melvin Webb. 

She leaves to cherish her loving memory her children: Dennis Hill Sr., Venus Washington, Sheila Marshall, Kim Perkins (Lonnie), John Perkins Jr. (Vickie), Roland Perkins Sr. (Renee), and Arlvelt Bruster Jr. (Carolyn); her bonus sisters Irene Ferguson and Barbara Hollowell; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and countless friends. Mama’s life was a testament to faith, love,

Funeral service will be on Friday, November 22, 2024, at Prince of Peace located at 4301 Wabash Ave Kansas City, Missouri 64130. The visitation will begin at 10:00am, the service will follow at 11:00am.