November 26, 1926 - March 26, 2021
Dalphine Lovell Redd passed away peacefully at age 94, in Bethesda, MD, at the home of
one of her sons, Robert. Dalphine was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great
grandmother. She enjoyed life as much as anyone possibly could and had more friends than
one can count. She loved telling stories, especially the funny ones about her life and her
wonderful experiences growing up in Cloverdale, Virginia. She loved to take photos, write
entertaining anecdotes, and even collected obituaries she thought were humorous, all of
which she shared widely. Having a husband and three sons who loved music, including two
sons who became professional musicians, she frequented concerts, clubs, and music venues
of all kinds, making new friends everywhere she went. She was a weekly fixture on Sunday
evenings at the Irish Inn at Glen Echo for the last two decades of her life, handing out
candy and Virginia peanuts to all. Adored by musicians and music fans alike, she was often
referred to as “Jazzy Dalphine” and “Mama Redd.” Her passion for cooking and hospitality
made her home a destination for friends, including guitarist Charlie Byrd, bassist Keter
Betts, arranger Bill Potts, and many world-famous jazz artists who were performing in
Washington. Dizzy Gillespie never missed a chance to go to the Redd family home every
time he performed in Washington for her Southern charm and cooking. She had a wonderful
life in which, as she loved to say, “There is never a dull moment.”
Dalphine May Lovell was born and raised in Cloverdale, Virginia. After high school, she
worked and attended classes at Virginia Tech, where she met her husband, I. Kay Redd Jr.,
of Hanover, Virginia, and made many friends she remained close to for over 70 years. She
and her husband, Kay, lived in Richmond for a brief period where she worked for the
Department of Agriculture. The Redds soon moved to Washington, D.C., and then to Silver
Spring, Maryland, where they lived for 45 years and raised their three sons. She was a
school crossing guard with Montgomery County, Maryland, for more than 20 years, retiring
in 1994, and also worked for years as a volunteer at Maryland’s election polls. After her
husband passed away in 1998, she moved to Cabin John, Maryland.
She was preceded in death by her oldest son, Israel Kay Redd lll (1951-2019) and is
survived by her sons, Charles Randolph Redd (and wife, Gail), Robert Lovell Redd (and wife,
Kathy); her grandchildren Catherine “Kitty” Durham, Jessica Marion Sartalamacchia (and
husband, Travis), Jacob Lovell Redd (and wife, Kelly), Charles Randolph Redd, Jr., and Katie
Lovell Redd; and her great grandchildren, Elizabeth Sartalamacchia and Travis
Sartalamacchia, Jr.
She will be inurned with her husband, Kay, at Arlington National Cemetery Columbarium.
Her family will honor her memory with a fun and happy celebration of life, just as she
wished.
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