Doris Howard Surles

DORIS HOWARD SURLES (Momma Doris), was born to the late Telsie Bailey-Howard and Jarvis Howard on February 22, 1931 in Grimesland, North Carolina. After a lengthy illness she was called to eternal rest on May 2, 2009. She was the youngest of sixteen children.Momma Doris was educated and graduated from Dunbar High School. She attended and completed Cortez Peters Business School; she also attended two years of nursing school. She was a natural caregiver and loved caring for others. She was employed by Johns Hopkins Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital and City Hospital until her daughter became ill and needed her full attention. In her later years, she worked as a doctor's assistant and her last employment was with the March Family's establishment, Expressions Florist.At an early age she was baptized at Devenport Temple in Little Washington, North Carolina. After relocating to Baltimore, Maryland she became a member of Mount Hebron Church of God and Christ. Later she became a disciple of Zion Baptist Church with Christian experience from Miracle Baptist Church. Momma Doris was an active disciple wherever she held membership. Some of the ministry positions were Deaconess, Sunday school teacher, Choir Director, Woman of Faith and a devoted choir member at Zion Baptist Church. Through all of her illnesses her faith never waivered. One of her favorite scriptures was "...though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him."Through an early marriage she blessed with two children, Gaynell and Milton. In 1969, she later married her friend and love of her life James Edward Surles. After fifteen years of devotion and love James went on to glory in 1986. Her children and grandchildren continued to be the love of her life.Momma Doris had a zeal for life and enjoyed every moment giving of herself and offering encouraging words of wisdom to everyone she met. Some of her favorite past time were spent: singing God's Praises, writing, cooking, ministering to the sick and shut-in by telephone and traveling around the nation with her daughter. She had a great sense of humor and she loved to laugh. She had a great passion for children, especially her "vitamins," her adopted great grand babies, Noah and Myeown.Doris Surles leaves to cherish her memory: her loving daughter, Gaynell Colburn; one son, Milton Hall, Jr.; daughter-in-law, LaFreda; two grandchildren, Milton Tyrell and Kayla Patrice Hall; one great-grandson, Jarvis Tyrell Hall; three sisters, Addie Roles (Miss), Virginia Fleet (Lil Babt), Mamie L. James; two brothers-in-law, Oliver James and Pete Perez (seven brothers and five sisters preceded her in death). Also left to cherish her memory are numerous "adopted" children whom she passionately nurtured and called her own, Joyce Howell, Sharon Foster, Jermaine Vaughn, Anthony Wade, Staci, Stormetta and "adopted" granddaughter Terri Nicholson as well as a host of other other loving relatives and friends.

Tributes

Doris Howard Surles

February 22, 1931 - May 2, 2009