Eva “Dell” Avery was the second oldest of three children born to the late John and Ola Mae Eldridge on October 29, 1948 in Mobile, Alabama. She went home to be with the Lord early Sunday morning, May 9, 2021, her last Mother’s Day. She loved school and loved the Lord from an early age. She attended Marengo County Training School in Thomaston, AL. She was better known as Dell, Mom, Grandma and Auntie Dell.
In her twenties, Dell packed her things and move to Cleveland, Ohio to join her big sister, Fannie Eldridge. In Cleveland, she met, fell in love and married Myron Avery. They were crazy about each other and showed others how true love looked between two people.
Dell loved spending time with family, eating fried chicken and home cooked comfort food, and “cuttin’ a rug.” Dell could out dance the best of them. If she heard one of her favorite songs, like “Step in the Name of Love”, she would jump up and start dancing her heart out. She was known as one of the best line dancers at her senior center and was the life of the party in any situation. She traveled and loved taking road trips to Alabama and the Carolinas. She didn’t like getting too close to the ocean or any body of water and did not want to get on a plane. If a car could get her to her destination, then she had her pillow and was ready to ride.
Dell had a kind, sweet spirit as long as you didn’t bother the babies. That sweet, kind-hearted, 4’10” woman would transform into a raging lion to protect her cubs. She had a smile that would brighten the room and soften the hardest hearts. She loved soaking in a hot bubble bath. Don’t suggest a shower to her unless you want to see her eyes roll.
Dell had many blood relatives but had even more family. She inherited her extended family (David and Shirley Riggins) in her fifties. They welcomed her into their home as part of their family and by default became part of her family. They loved and spoiled her like one of their own and helped make her last years on this earth beautiful and meaningful. Her family cannot thank them enough.
Dell loved the simple things in life. She loved babies. She loved birthday parties, weddings, celebrations, and anything that brought joy to people. Most of all, she loved her family.
Dell was preceded in death by her parents, her younger sister Rosa Lee Eldridge, her husband her uncles and aunts. She leaves to carry on her memories: her children, Marcella (Alonzo) Smith, Elizabeth Avery; her sister Fannie Eldridge, step-brother John Eldridge Jr.; her granddaughter Marcella Moore; aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews; in-laws; extended family, Shirley and David Riggins; and a host of other family and friends.
The family asks in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of Eva Avery to the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging.
