Dolores D Blakney's Obituary
Dolores Blakney Obituary
Dolores Del-Rio Blakney was born August 21, 1933 in Madison, Arkansas to Thomas Jerry Sanders and Bessie Mae Steward.
She was the oldest of three children from this union. Dolores, her sister, Vivian LaVon and brother Thomas Cornelius grew up Madison and Round Pond. Dolores was half-sister to Laveda Sanders, Audrey Mae Sanders, and John Wesley Turner.
In the late 50s, Dolores left Madison to move to Chicago.
On November 10, 1963 she married James Earl Blakney. Dolores brought her two children, Archie (Butch) Edwards and Sharon Denise Edwards to this marriage. Together, James and Dolores adopted their third child, Tamara Shantee Blakney.
She confessed Christ at an early age. Dolores was a natural leader.
In 1948, at age 16, she served as a teacher in a one-room school house in Madison where she taught both her sister and brother. She later attended beauty school, earned her associates degree, and worked for the Chicago Crown Department Store from 1956 to 1965. She found her way into the United Airlines family in 1965, from which she retired. Her tutelage extended to her personal life. She began her love for gospel music when she helped to form the Original Gospel Symbols.
Later, she organized one of Chicago’s best female groups known as the Excellos. She was an active union member and became very involved in her neighborhood. For over 30 years, she was a very active member in the Markham Community Block Club. She organized the Chicago branch of the Brooklyn Allstars Fan Club in 1972.
Dolores is proceeded in death by her mother and father, sister, Vivian LaVon Sanders (Herman) Shelton, Thomas Cornelius (Lorene) Sanders, granddaughter, Nitita Lawsy Edwards and daughter-in-law, Margaret Faye Edwards. She leaves to celebrate her life her son, Archie Edwards, Jr of Sidney, OH, Sharon Denise
Edwards and Tamara Shantee Blakney both of Markham, IL, five grandchildren; Rahim Rafiq Edwards (California), Rodney Evans, Jace Edwards (California), Robbin Sampson Edwards (Ohio), and Jarvis Charles Edwards (Illinois), seventeen great grandchildren and many adopted sons and daughters; Ronald Edwards, Max Sanders, Lokey Cloud (Kevin), and Lanita Spruill, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
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