Laura Maud Richards

On January 18, 2026, Dorine Elizabeth Abrams Mebane was called to her heavenly home. Dorine was born on April 19, 1928 in the town of Holcomb Rock, Virginia, the second child of the late Rosa Elvira Davis Abrams and James Henry Abrams. She enjoyed a life filled with family, friends and the love of God.

Dorine grew up in Coleman Falls, Viriginia surrounded by a loving family which included three brothers- James (Jimmy), Winfred (Wince) and Alvin (Abe) and two sisters – Rosa Mae and Frances. Along with cousins they spent many happy days on the family farms in Southwestern Virginia.

One constant staple in the Abrams family life was Antioch Baptist Church. There she was baptized and was brought up in God’s Holy Word. Years later the family moved from the “country” to the city of Lynchburg, VA as her father found employment at the Lynchburg Foundry, but they still went back to Antioch for service on Sundays. Dorine adjusted to her new life and moved onto Dunbar High School. Though the school was segregated they were surrounded by teachers who provided a quality education and always encouraged their students to be proud of their heritage. Students in her graduating Class of 1946 even included young servicemen returning home from WWII entering school to complete their education.

After high school, Dorine moved to Washington DC and resided with her Aunt Sallie Lightfoot and her family. She continued her education at Cortez Peters Business School. While attending the school, she was introduced to the big city and along the way met lifelong friends like Minnie Cooper, Bernice Bundy and Elizabeth Marlowe Saunders. She also made friends as she adopted a new church home-Vermont Avenue Baptist Church. It was at Vermont Avenue where the Etoiliers were born. This group of 20-30 men and women were committed to social and civic activities for the betterment of the local black community.

After graduating from Cortez Peters, Dorine found employment as a civilian employee with the Department of Defense. Around that time, she would visit relatives at 1201 Q Street where she met her future husband Oscar Vincent (OV) Mebane. His sisters, Verna Mae and Tessie were good friends with Dorine’s mom, Elvira and before you knew it they were married in August 1949. They enjoyed picnics, going to concerts and ball games. They also not only traveled to Lynchburg and OV’s home of Danville, VA but also various cities throughout the United States. Not long thereafter, they added a new member to the family, Oscar Daniel Mebane. As the city began to change, Dorine and OV and Oscar moved to a new home in NE Washington and started the next phase of their lives. But still there was always time for trips, family reunions, cookouts and holiday get togethers. New friends joined into the festive times including Edith Woods, Barbara and Robert Hall, Helen Haskins and Bell and Lonnie Prince to name just a few. Just when they thought they were about to start traveling again, along came their daughter.

Dorine left Vermont Avenue Baptist Church to attend a church closer to home. She continued her spiritual journey by attending Sunday School as well as weekly services and worked in church ministries including the Missionary Society, Board of Elders, and sang soprano in various choirs. She enjoyed participating in PTA meetings, Boys and Girl Scouts activities as well as working with the local civic organizations in her North Michigan Park neighborhood. As Dorine and Oscar reached their golden years life was good. Retirement for both came in the 1980’s. They still traveled and Dorine remained busy with church and social activities. After an illness, Oscar departed this life in April of 1991. Dorine continued her civic works and enjoyed working in her yard planting flowers. She joined her last church home at Mount Jezreel Baptist Church and met many new friends.

Dorine leaves to cherish her loving memory one son, Oscar D. Mebane, Sr. and his wife Ramona of Clinton, Maryland, one daughter Diane F. Mebane of Greenbelt, MD; one grandson, Oscar D. Mebane, Jr and his wife Nicole of Upper Marlboro, MD; one granddaughter, Nakeisha M. Mebane of Clinton, MD; three great grandchildren, Oscar D. Mebane, III of Upper Marlboro, MD, Gabriell E. Mebane-McLeod of Clinton, MD and Nicholas A. Mebane of Upper Marlboro, MD; two sisters-in law, Dolores Abrams(Alvin) of Cocoa, Florida and Pearl Payne (James) of Prince Frederick, Maryland; two first cousins Edgar Morris and his wife Annette of Washington, DC and Jerome Lightfoot of Washington, DC as well as a host of devoted nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.