Dorothy Emmenta Diggs Livingston

Dorothy Emmenta Diggs Livingston went home to be with the Lord on April 16, 2023 at her home in Winston-Salem, NC. She was born in Norfolk, Virginia on March 23, 1943 to the parents of Victor and Dorothy Diggs.

Dorothy or “Honey” was a loving, caring wife to Edward Livingston for 16 years . Edward always called her the “Love of his life” and she will forever be. She was a wonderful mother to Tracie Lee Russell (Timothy Russell), Dawn Lee Berenda (Daniel Berenda ) and Rhonda Lee Villarreal (David Villarreal) and stepmother to Rernardo McCoy Livingston, Edward M. Livingston, Shmika D.Livingston, and Kilana F. Livingston. She was a loving grandmother to Giana Lee Villarreal, David Lee Villarreal, Johnathan Omar Russell and Jaxon Lee Berenda. and to numerous step grandchildren.

She spent her childhood in Norfolk and pursued her love for art by majoring in art at Norfolk State University. She moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1965. She served as an art teacher many communities in Ohio and Virginia. She was voted Ohio Art Teacher of the Year 3 times. She retired from Chesapeake Public Schools serving as art teacher at Western Branch HS for over 30 years. Her passion was to educate students in all forms of art and bring out their creativity from painting to jewelry- making, pottery, basket weaving to photography. She was loved greatly by her students because of her joyful character, sense of humor and “can do” attitude.

She served as the first woman intern Chief of the Meherrin Indian Tribe and serving as tribal council woman, Senior Chief Princess and culture class instructor. She was proud of establishing relationships with fellow indigenous nations during her travels.

“Honey” will be greatly missed, but her family, church, colleagues and friends find comfort knowing she is in Heaven rejoicing without pain.

The funeral service will be held Friday, April 21st at 1pm at Vogler Funeral & Cremations. The friends will receive friends for a visitation following the service. Burial will be on Wednesday, April 26th at 11am at Salisbury National Cemetery.