On the afternoon of Wednesday, September 28, 2022, Ina J. Lennon Hager was chosen by our Lord and Savior to come home to rest. Ina was born on October 3, 1939 to the late Benjamin F. Lennon and Estelle Singletary Lennon in Boardman (now Evergreen), North Carolina. She was the second of the six children of this union. Ina was raised to respect religion, education, family, and hard work.

After graduating from Mt Olive High School (Whiteville, NC) in 1957, Ina went on to begin her collegiate education at Elizabeth City State Teachers College (now Elizabeth City State University) in Elizabeth City, NC. While in college Ina became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Delta Theta Chapter in 1959. This decision was made after meeting several notable women who were also Alpha Kappa Alpha women on campus and in the surrounding city of Elizabeth City, NC. Ina Hager went on to graduate from Elizabeth City State College in the spring of 1961 with her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She later received her Master of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC in May of 1975.

Following her graduation from Elizabeth City, Ina went on to teach in Jacksonville, NC. Later she married William H. Hager, whom she had met on the campus of their alma mater and moved to begin their lives in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. In Kings Mountain the two welcomed all four of their children, Henry, Markus, David, and Darian. Ina Hager went on to teach at Washington Elementary School, Cleveland County Schools, Shelby, NC for 37 years before retiring in 2000.

Ina Lennon Hager served Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® continuously for 63 years. She was an active member of the Zeta Mu Omega Chapter, Gastonia, NC for 61 years. Throughout her continued years of service, she held several offices, including Basileus, and was the chairman of several committees. Ina Hager was an active member and volunteer at her church and in the surrounding community of Kings Mountain, NC. Ina Hager was an active member of Bynum Chapel AME Zion Church, Kings Mountain, NC, having served in many leadership roles over the years including, Chairman of the Trustee Board, Christian Education Chairman, and Kitchen Committee Chairman. She organized the first Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Breakfast and continued it every year since 1987, until recent years. She also planned and coordinated the Black History Program and sponsored several programs over the years in support of her church. Ina Hager volunteered extensively in her community through the NAACP, Democratic Party, Voter Registration, American Cancer Society, and Cleveland County Chapter of Retired School Personnel. Known for her culinary skills, Ina was highly revered for her delicious meals, savory deserts and hospitable spirit when welcomed to her home or gathering. It brought her tremendous joy to nourish others with great food and fellowship. In service to her community, she would frequently prepare meals for the sick and shut in and provide transportation to doctor appointments. She was a master facilitator, that formed and leveraged her relationships within the community, church, and ties to local businesses for the betterment of all she encountered.

Ina Lennon Hager was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin F. Lennon and Estelle Singletary Lennon, husband, William H. Hager, siblings, Amelia Lennon Murphy, Benjamin F. Lennon Jr. and Nina Lennon Williams, sons, William Henry Hager II, Markus Antonio Hager, and Darian Lamar Hager. She leaves to cherish her memories, son, David Gilmore Hager, stepson, Vincent Walker (Pia), sisters, Linda Lennon Sagoe, Annette Yvonne Lennon Powell, cousin, John Curtis Lennon, aunt, Ruth Wooten Lennon, brother-in-law, John Murphy (Amelia), sister-in-law, Anne Hager (Roscoe Sr.), Selena Lennon Wilson (Benjamin Jr.), and daughter-in-laws, Tequel D. Hager (Markus), Claudia O. Hager (Darian). She also leaves nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and numerous friends to include some special friends: Priscilla Roseboro, Evangela Hager, Melanie Haile, her sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, and the Bynum Chapel AME Zion Church Family.

The Family will receive visitors on Friday, October 7, 2022 from 6:00PM to 7:30PM at Bynum Chapel AME Zion Church, 213 N. Cansler St, Kings Mountain, NC 28086. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 12:00PM at Bynum Chapel AME Zion Church, 213 N. Cansler St, Kings Mountain, NC 28086. Overflow seating for the memorial service will be available in the Family Life Center directly behind the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that gifts be made in memory of Ina L. Hager to the Elizabeth City State University Scholarship Foundation, her alma mater. Donations can be mailed to The Elizabeth City State University Foundation, PO Box 1467, Elizabeth City, NC 27906 or on-line at, https://vikingsforward.ecsu.edu.