Delores (Dee) Charles

On Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Ms. Deloris (Dee) Charles was called to join our Lord and Savior at her eternal resting place surrounded by family at home.  Her parents James Billy Charles and Leotis Charles, two brothers Jerry Allen and Brady Lee Charles, preceded her in death.

Ms. Dee as she was-known made her grand entrance on January 23, 1943 in Mobile, Alabama. She spent her childhood running behind her big brother James Jr., playing in the southern sun, climbing trees, and scraping her knees. Like majority of families during this era, relocation was necessary for opportunities. The Charles family migrated to Northeast Ohio during her adolescent years. This move served as a transitional point in her life. Deloris gained independence and a sense of being.

Her caring nature made her an ideal candidate in the helping professions. Ms. Dee worked in several nursing homes and hospitals providing care to those in need. She secured a position with Ford Motor Company where she worked diligently until her retirement in 1994. During her tenure, she made lifelong friendships, established a remarkable work ethic, and talked a lot of smack! 

Following her retirement, Ms. Dee did not sit still long. She quickly made her way back into the workforce as a “sample lady” at both Costco and Sam’s Club. She took pride in her stations and enjoyed interacting with customers of all ages. On a daily basis, you could catch her in the community volunteering for the school’s PTO, working voter registrations, or sorting goodies at the food bank.

Ms. Dee was an active member of the Order of Eastern Star, Buckeye Chapter 46, serving as Past Worthy Matron. She was a participating member of Lorain County Section of the National Council of Negro Women. Ms. Dee was a member, donated, and volunteered for the NAACP.  She was a proud representative of the Lorain Club of Negro Business and Professional Women instilling culture into everyone she met. Every so often, you could catch her pursuing fun, friendships and freedom with her fellow Red Hat Society members. She took pride in volunteering in several church committees including Sunday school and the culinary team.

Balancing business and pleasure was a task Ms. Dee was able to accomplish with ease.  She found thrill in catching a bargain and trying her luck with the lottery or casinos. She loved to indulge in westerns and solve the crimes in television shows before the episode was over. Ms. Dee was known to “cut the rug” at the sound of any tune, especially reggae. She loved playing games from kickball to checkers, and on occasion even cheating at these games.   

Ms. Dee leaves to cherish her memory:  three children, Shawn Cawthon of Lorain, Ohio, Dion Charles of Stone Mountain, Georgia, and Velvete Charles; three sisters, Karen Heath (Francois) of Petersburg, Virginia, Merio Calloway of Lorain, Ohio, Florence Charles of Atlanta, Georgia; 9 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Friends will be received on January 7, 2020 in the Greater Victory Christian Ministries, 559 Reid Ave/Lorain. From 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. a walk-thru only and the “Celebration of Life” will begin at 11:00A.M.  Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery/Lorain. 

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