Delores Smallwood was born November 11, 1933, to Maggie and Milton Johnson, Sr. in Washington, DC. She was the eldest child of eight. She married William White, and that union produced Dhameera AbdulHaqq (Linda), Tony and Glenn. Later she met and married Francis Smallwood (deceased) and that union produced Francis, Jr. and Shirley Winter.
Delores’ mother passed away when she was young. She became the mother figure to her siblings. It was reported that she ran a tight ship. If they didn’t behave, she had no hesitation reporting them to their father when he got home from work.
Her career consisted of childcare, domestic work and she completed the rest of her work career at the Office of Personnel Management.
She had a strong faith in God. She joined the Outreach Christian Center around 1980. She became the president of Seniors on the Move and was a dedicated Deaconess.
Outside of the church she continued her strong faith by starting a prayer group for her family members. This group would gather and pray for other family members in need prayers. She would not hesitate to lay hands on you and pray away any pain or ache be it physical or mental.
Delores was a well-rounded person with many interests and talents. She enjoyed reading, art, crocheting, swimming, sewing, cooking, and teaching children just to name a few.
She is survived by her children Tony, Glenn, Francis, Jr. and Shirley, daughter-in-laws, Latricia White, Donna Smallwood, Adrienne White, her brothers Gary and Levill (Biddy), her brother-in-law, Thomas Smallwood, her sister-in-laws, Cynthia Smallwood, Gwen Johnson, and Sandra Smallwood.
She is preceded in death by her husbands, William White and Francis Smallwood, her daughter Dhameera AbdulHaqq (Linda), her daughter-in-law, Helen White, her brothers Milton Jr., Orson, and Floyd and her sisters Annie Henderson and Sylvia Holloway.
She also leaves behind numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.