Gertrude Jones Dorsey

GERTRUDE BERNICE JONES DORSEY, the fifth child and fourth daughter of the late Frank Wilbert and Cassina Mageline (Hopkins) Jones, was born on January 28, 1929 at 1042 McDonogh Street in Baltimore, Maryland. She was one of ten children. She peacefully and quietly departed this world on Saturday, August 31, 2013. Gertrude’s upbringing was during the segregated times in Maryland. She attended Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School and Dunbar Junior-Senior High School graduating in 1947. In 1951, she graduated from Coppin Teachers College and began teaching in the Baltimore City Public School System. In 1956, she received her Master’s Degree in Education from New York University. On July 28, 1956, Gertrude married the late Clifton Spenser Dorsey in Baltimore City. He died in March of 1969. There were no children born of this union. Gertrude attended St. Mark’s Institutional Baptist Church where she served as the Superintendent of Sunday School for many years. She also attended several other churches briefly before coming to Friendship Baptist Church. She devoted much of her time in a deep study of the Bible. She loved to discuss the Bible with her family and friends. Gertrude enjoyed travel. In late July of 1972, Gertrude and niece Noreen began a 15-day personally escorted air and motor coach tour of “The West” by Tauck Tours, Inc. Starting in San Francisco and ending in Phoenix, AR, they saw, among other things, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Los Angeles, Disneyland, San Diego, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon. Gertrude retired from the school system in February of 1980 after twenty- nine years of service. She devoted the first six or seven years of her retirement to helping children complete their home assignments after school. She did this free of charge. She turned the basement of her Bareva Avenue home into a small classroom for this purpose. Gertrude was a caring person. After completing the H&R Block Tax Preparation Course, she would assist friends in preparing their income tax forms for little or no fee. When her older sister, Doris Jones Goodson began suffering with dementia, Gertrude assisted Doris’ daughters, Noreen Goodson and Joyce Dawson in caring for Doris both in Gertrude’s home and in Joyce’s home. Gertrude was a creative person. The walls of her home were painted soft green with white trim. She would paint furniture white and then stencil on green designs. She sewed many different items such as clothing and drapes. She was a stylish dresser with coordinating shoes, hats and purses. She also enjoyed oil painting. She leaves to cherish her memory: her brother, Clifton P. Jones of Virginia; her sister, Angela Jones of Baltimore; her sisters-in-law, Hazel Jones and Barbara Jones; and numerous family members and friends.

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Gertrude Jones Dorsey

January 28, 1929 - August 31, 2013