Bertha W. Mercer, 100, teacher and counselor

Bertha W. Mercer, a longtime educator and counselor, died Tuesday of a circulatory ailment at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. She was 100 and had lived in Anneslie.

She taught elementary subjects, initially at a Calvert County one-room schoolhouse. She later taught in Baltimore County and ended her career as a Baltimore City counselor. She retired about 40 years ago.

Born Bertha Wood on a Calvert County farm, she attended Blue Ridge Preparatory School and what is now Towson University. She earned her bachelor of science degree at the Johns Hopkins University.

She was a member and sang in the choir of Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Bolton Hill.

A volunteer at St. Joseph Medical Center, Mrs. Mercer also arranged for vocal groups to appear at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Perry Point.

Her husband of nearly 50 years, Horace H. Mercer, a printer, died in the 1970s.

Plans for a memorial service are pending.

Mrs. Mercer is survived by a sister, Anna W. Gilman of Micanopy, Fla.; and nephews and nieces.