James Edward Dorsey Jr.

James Edward Dorsey (Dad), son and first child of the late James E. Dorsey and the late Pattie O. Dorsey, was born on November 7, 1932 in Baltimore, Maryland. Dad had an outgoing personality and possessed genuine love for people; they were drawn to him. If a friend had a problem, Dad shared that problem and would assist in whatever way he could. Educated in the Baltimore City Public School System, Jim graduated from Carver Vocational Technical High School in 1949 with a major in radio and television. At the time, many of his friends joked with him about selecting that major. How was he supposed to get a job when no radio and television executives were hiring “Negroes” even when a job was available? In 1953, at Ceylon Restaurant on West Lanvale Street, Dad met and fell in love with his wife-to-be, the late Mary Perry from Warren County, North Carolina, the eldest daughter of the late John P. Perry and Mary Ann Perry. Jim and Mary were married a year later on November 20, 1954. From this union were born three children: the late Karen D. Knight, James E. Dorsey, Jr. and Brett M. Dorsey. Dad had a phenomenal memory, loved learning, story-telling and listening to jazz. He insisted that his children value hard work and education. While working at Color Craft Corporation, James attended and received a certificate in electronics from RETS Electronics School in the 1950’s. Upon receiving his diploma from RETS, Jim applied for a position as an air traffic controller at Friendship Airport (now Thurgood Marshall-BWI). Although he passed the test with flying colors, he was not hired because of racial discrimination. He later applied for and passed the test for a position with the United States Postal Service, where he remained until 1972. As her firstborn grandson, “Jimmy” (as Mama called him) was his grandmother’s (the late Annie Wynn’s) favorite grandchild. Every summer for nearly four decades (60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s) “Jimmy” drove “Mama” to and from her home in Tillery, North Carolina, where she would stay for the entire summer. In 1972, when Mama discovered that “Jimmy” was leaving his job at the Post Office to become the first African-American engineer at Maryland Public Television, she was livid. How could he possibly give up such a good job with all those benefits for something she considered to be “uncertain.” To be sure he was making the right decision, he worked both jobs for about three months before finally resigning his position at the Post Office. After twenty-four years in 1996, Dad retired from Maryland Public Television as a Master Control Director. For a number of years during retirement, Dad was a substitute teacher at Rognel Heights Elementary School. With the passing of Aunt Willa Mea in 2004, Dad became the family elder as family and friends sought his advice on a wide range of issues. He was respected throughout the Rognel Height’s community and well known for his wisdom and experience. In his later years as Dad’s health began to decline, his son, Brett was his primary caregiver. He departed this life early Monday morning, September 17, 2012 and will be sorely missed. Dad leaves to cherish his memory: sons, James E. Dorsey, Jr. (wife, Rhonda L. Dorsey) and Brett M. Dorsey; grandson, Donald C. Knight, Jr.; sister, Edith Hinton; brother, Glenn Dorsey; son-in-law, Donald C. Knight, Sr.; sister-in-law, Alma Jackson; brother-in-law, Stonewall Jackson; Donna Robinson (nurse for almost ten years); Sophia L. Lewis and Monet Lawrence (friends and caregivers); and his Kevin Road family. He also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Tributes

James Edward Dorsey Jr.

November 7, 1932 - September 17, 2012