Obituary of Delores E Dangerfield

Life Reflections

Delores Ella Busey Dangerfield was born on August 30, 1930 to the late John and Elizabeth Busey.  She and her ‘sister-cousin’, Marie Dunston, were raised by their Aunt Nellie and Uncle Isaac Reese.  ‘Sis’ and her brothers, Johnnie and Charles Busey maintained a very close relationship until their passing. Delores graduated from Cardoza High School in Washington, D.C., and continued her education at Cortez Peters Business School.  She joined Union Wesley AME Zion Church as a youth and held that membership over the years. She joined the Mt. Olive Baptist Church after many years of attending and was baptized by Rev. Victor.

Delores married the late Charles Dangerfield on August 24, 1952.  This union gave birth to three children; Yvonne, Charles Jr. and Irene.  Family commitment was strong and exemplified endless love.

Delores began her career working for the US Government as a keypunch operator at the Government Printing Office.  After the birth of her first born, she remained home to care for her children until Irene went away to college.  While a stay at home mom, she was often called to chaperone field trips at Hoffman Boston Elementary School.

Delores was a walker and never drove.  During the summer months, she would walk her children and many of the neighborhood children to the Columbia Pike Library for the summer reading program.  She brought “great diversity” to the weekly events. Reading was important to her. She took every opportunity to purchase books for her family.  Delores subscribed to Weekly Reader Book Club, and purchased collections of encyclopedias and children series from the A & P grocery store and any vendor that sold affordable books.  She would read the Washington Post from cover to cover.  She would often clip articles on community members, favorite entertainers, and historical figures to share with her family.

As her children grew up in the church, she supported Mt. Olive’s Baptist Training Union and Sunday school events.  She was a regular chaperone on annual camping trips to the Shenandoah Mountains and Sunday School picnics and outings to Bull Run and Lake Fairfax.  Delores was known for packing enough food for an army of children and freely fed every child who was hungry.  She believed in her heart that every child, hungry or disruptive, was heir to the kingdom of God.

Delores worked in the field of retail sales at Drug Fair, Burlington, and JC Penney. Her earnings were often devoted to clothing her family, especially her grandsons.  As she is described in Proverbs 31, she looks well to the ways of her household while strength with dignity were her garments.

Delores always had a special affection for everyone with whom she developed a relationship.  She was the in-law that was loved by all.  She embraced those who marched to the tune of a different drummer, those who Christ described as “the least of these.”  Like Him, she welcomed all and lived life in search of ways to help somebody.  She followed Christ’s lead and was comfortable sitting and eating with those who needed a friend.  This lovingkindness was reciprocated in ways one would never imagine!

The attribute that best reflects Delores’ life is giving. A widow of 20 years, she mirrored the Zarephath woman who gave when she had and gave even more when she didn’t have. She literally would take the food from her own plate to feed a hungry soul.

Mimo, as she was affectionately called, leaves to cherish her memory a daughter, Yvonne Dangerfield; a son, Charles Dangerfield Jr.; two grandsons, Bruce and Charles Copening; and a brother-in-law, John Dangerfield.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Dangerfield, Sr. and a daughter, Irene Dangerfield.  She shared special relationships with Gwendolyn Mallory, Sally McFail, and Sharon Washington as well as a host of life-long friends and family.