Dolly Marks

Dolly Marks, 93, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2025. Dolly, the matriarch of the family, was born in Guyana to William Adolphus Patterson and Jestina Frederick Patterson (nee Morgan) on November 24, 1931. Dolly was initially raised in Guyana attending the Smith’s Church School on part scholarship. At the age of 12, Dolly’s mother passed in 1943 from an illness. Dolly’s Aunt Rebecca Austin then adopted Dolly and Dolly went to live with her in Port-au-Spain, Trinidad in 1943. In Trinidad, Dolly attended the St. Joseph’s Catholic High School where she received her Junior Cambridge Certificate. After high school in Trinidad, she attended secretarial school and took piano lessons. Dolly returned to live in Guyana in 1951 where she worked as a secretary at the YMCA and attended the Blackman’s Secretarial School part time in the evening. In 1951 Dolly was a Coca-Cola promotional calendar girl distributing Coca-Cola and promoted soups for Veaton and Richtar. Also, in 1951 Dolly owned and operated a Beauty Parlor where she was a hairdresser.

In 1953, Dolly moved to London, England and subsequently married in London to Desmond A. Marks, also from Guyana, in a Catholic Ceremony on September 26, 1953. In London, Dolly worked for the Indian High Commission for 9 years in various positions. Daughters Celine and Denise were born in London to Dolly and Desmond. Desmond completed his Mechanical and Electrical Engineering studies in London with a degree. The family in 1962 then moved to Jamaica where Dolly was a homemaker and Desmond worked initially as an engineer under contract with the Jamaican government and then subsequently opened his own private engineering firm, E&M Associates Limited. Deryck was born to Dolly and Desmond in Jamaica. Dolly and Desmond then moved the family back to London in 1966 for a short stay and then the same year moved back to Guyana as Desmond secured an engineering contract with the Bauxite Industry. Dolly and Desmond and the family lived in Guyana until 1969 and then moved to Jamaica again as Desmond secured another engineering contract with the Jamaican government. Christoper was then born to Dolly and Desmond in Jamaica. Dolly enjoyed a flourishing life in Jamaica as a homemaker raising her 4 children who had exceptional academic, athletic and musical talents. In Jamaica, Dolly was an active parent volunteer with the Flying Fish Ambassadors Swim Club headed by Coach Neville Alexander in which Denise and Deryck participated.

In 1979, Dolly moved to the United States where she subsequently worked at the Booker T. Washington Foundation in Washington, D.C. In the early 1990’s, Dolly retired to the Beltsville, Maryland area where she was an active community volunteer as a community minister through the St. John Baptist Church, as well with prayer groups and Meals on Wheels. Dolly was also a member of the choir of the St. John Baptist Church.

Dolly’s beloved husband, Desmond, passed on July 22, 1996, in Jamaica after 42 years of marriage. Dolly eventually moved to Florida in 2010 to be closer to family and resided with her daughter Denise and her family. In Florida, Dolly continued to live a retired life in the sunshine walking daily in the morning and evening. She also was a member of the St. John XXIII Catholic Church which she attended regularly and sang in the choir.

Dolly’s hobbies were dancing, singing, bridge, badminton, golf and exercise. Dolly was very devoted to her Catholic religion and the worship of God. Dolly said her proudest family moments were the birth of her children and her children’s scholastic and athletic achievements. In remembering her, Dolly said that, by the grace of God, she was able to give her children a proper upbringing and good education, helped her children pursue their athletic pursuits and earned the respect of her children. Dolly noted that she had a wonderful mother-in-law, Victorine Marks, who was very good to her.

Dolly is survived by her 4 children, Celine, Denise, Deryck and Christopher, son-in-law, Philip, daughters-in-law Amy and Michelle, 11 grandchildren, Orson, Tajona, Kaissa, Christopher (Emily), C. Jamall, Gerald, Jr., Desmond, Noah, Christina, Alexandra, and Katherine, 2 great-grandchildren, Leo and Eli, and extended family and friends. A private Celebration of Life ceremony will be held for Dolly. In lieu of flowers and gifts, please consider a tax-deductible donation (to the extent as provided by law) in the name of Dolly Marks to the Portland Arts Vocational Centre, P.A.V.E., a youth vocational center in Portland, Jamaica @ https://www.pavecentre.org/.

The family thanks you for all the love and expressions of condolences, and the memory tributes to Dolly.