Delcie Hofler

Although she was a small girl from a small town, Delcie Hinton -Hofler had a big, big heart. Born, the fifth child to logger, Caleb Hinton and Jennettie Fauntleroy-Hinton in Sunbury, North Carolina, on June 22,1933. Delcie later graduated from Cooper High School in 1952 and following a year of college, moved to the “big city” in the footsteps of her sister Chelsie and Vera. As she would later recount - people in NY were always quick to give you something to drink, but never anything to eat”.

In 1955, Delcie married Fred (Jack) Hofler who followed her when he came home from the Navy. Arriving in New York during The Great Migration, their union produced six children.

As Delcie’s own mother passed while she was a toddler, she found her life’s work in being a mother and was known as “Ma” not only to her children, but some of their friends and her grandchildren as well. Combing hair, mending clothes and providing a place to sleep for any child in need was a common practice. It was routine to find someone new at the dinner table, and for Jack to ask at the end of the meal, “Who was that”?

And speaking of combing hair, part of the Saturday evening ritual for church Sunday morning, included the washing of her daughters hair - sometimes all five on the same night! Come Sunday morning, all heads were done in preparation for church with Delcie too tired to attend.

Although Delcie did not attend church with regularity, people received a sermon from the way she lived her life. This was on full display at the Friday night prayer meetings held at her neighbors home. Many learned that when you reach out to God, God reaches back. Given the gift of knowledge, Delcie often saw

things ahead, and knew things she had no explainable way of knowing. This will be part of her legacy along with the olive oil…

In fragile health, Delcie moved to Jacksonville to live with Veronica’s budding family 21 years ago.

Delcie is missed by everyone who knew, and was therefore charmed by, her. She is survived by her sisters Vera Smith and Sadie Wiggins, children Deborah, Veronica, Tatrina, Devitta, Malverick, and Andrea (Yedda).

She leaves behind adored grandchildren Ricardo Cargill, Anthony and William Thompson, Destin and Elana Jenkins, Kyle, Blake Brooke Hofler and Elsy Rios (bonus child) Aldwyn (AJ), Ianna (Arni) and Delicia James, together with much loved children-in-law, Gary Jenkins, Alwyn James, Alvan Thompson, Bernard Kellam, Katherine Hofler and her many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.