Dolores Harris

Dolores, affectionately called Lorrie and Aunt Lorrie throughout her life, as the result of a close neighbor who thought the name Dolores was entirely too long to say. She was born on May 16, 1934, to the union of Charles and Jannie Myrtle Lewis. She lived to the age of ninety (90) when she passed into eternity on October 1, 2024.

Dolores graduated in 1952 from Central High School and attended Columbus Technical Institute, now known as Columbus State Community College majoring in psychology. A 38-year employee for the Federal Government (DCSC), Dolores held the position of Section Chief in Contract Administration with several government employees under her supervision.

Married to Richard Rodriguez for 35 years, they loved to travel in their campers and motor homes. They visited forty-four states as happy campers until his passing in May 2015. You never saw one without the other being close by along with their favorite dog “Rudy,” as if he were one of their “children.” She had a tremendous sense of humor, was very generous and loved shopping. She felt extraordinary joy in giving gifts to many, wanting to make them happy and to see them enjoy life.

Dolores was born into the Church of God faith and attended faithfully for over 75 years, visiting the sick and shut-ins and providing communion alongside, now deceased, Reverend Raymond Steele. She also served in the church pantry. She attended the First Church of God throughout its growth starting at St. Clair Avenue, 22nd and Atcheson, Champion Avenue and Toronto, Wilson and Fair Avenues and finally the current location on Refugee Road. She was the first person baptized when the church completed the addition to its Wilson and Fair location under the pastorage of Timothy J. Clarke. Unto the date of her passing, she was one of two remaining children from the congregation’s early beginnings.

In addition to her parents, Dolores was preceded in death by her brother Charles Franklin Lewis, and sisters Evelyn Stone and Mercia De Beasley (Fred).

She is survived by her devoted and caring daughters Jacquelyne (Jackie) Harris and Deborah (Debbie) Thompson-Dixon (Marlon Dixon), her grandsons Nathaniel and Dominic Thompson, special niece Darla (Dwight) Ware and their children Dwight (Sharonda), Derrick (Rukiya) and Dira Ware and their children, nieces Cheryl Beasley and Karen Nash. In addition to a host of cousins, she cherished special friendships with Pearl Bourne, Yvonne Westerfield and Dwayne Washington.