Delquency Carpenter Capers

A Life Well Lived, A Legacy to Remember Delquency Carpenter Capers passed away peacefully on January 4, 2023, surrounded by the love and presence of her family members. Delquency, affectionately known as Del, was born February 12, 1950, in Greenwood, Mississippi, to the late M.C. Carpenter and Mae Frances Green Carpenter. Del accepted Christ as her Lord and Savio_r at an early age and attended Jennings Temple C.M.E. Church with her family. Her faith in God grew as she journeyed through life. Her devotion to Christ was demonstrated through her active membership in church communities in Rochester, NY, Dallas, TX, and Richmond, VA; all places she lived within her life. In 1990, Del joined First Union Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, VA, and was a devoted and active member of the congregation. As an ordained Deacon, she served her church in capacities such as Chairperson of the Board of Christian Education, the Head of the Pastoral Search Committee, and in alignment with her heart for learning, she also taught Sunday School. Del was the eldest of four children and was a smart, thoughtful, and responsible child. She loved reading and writing and was an excellent student. Growing up in the deep South during the Civil Rights Movement, Del attended segregated schools and was reared to value education at an early age. She received her formal education in Greenwood Public Schools and was a proud graduate of the Threadgill High School Class of 1968. Del excelled socially and academically and took part in many school activities including the Choir, Drama Club, and the Glee Club. She had many childhood friends and as teenagers, they would hang out at each other's houses listening to music, talking, and laughing together. These times were cherished by Del and she remained close with her hometown high school friends throughout her life. Del's love for education and learning is central to her legacy. After graduating from Threadgill High School, she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Bishop College in Dallas Texas, and her Master of Science Degree in Education from Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. She devoted her professional life to education by impacting the lives of hundreds of children across the count! as a dedicated and loving elementary school teacher. Having taught in various school systems in New York, Texas, and Virginia, Del received many accolades throughout her career, notably being named Henrico County Teacher of the Year in 2008. After 39 years in the classroom, Del retired from the Henrico County Public School System in 2012. Even then, she continued to feed her passion for education by mentoring new teachers and serving as a private tutor and substitute teacher. Del had many personal hobbies that included painting, crossword and seek-and-find puzzles, and watching investigative television. She also had a great love of music for all genres, but particularly smooth jazz and gospel. She was known to put on her headphones and get "lost" in her playlist. She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang in her church choir for many years. One of Del's favorite pastimes was baking, a skill passed down through her mother. Many of her friends and loved ones alike were head over heels for her "never from a box" cakes. Her specialty was her famous 5-flavor pound cake which she often baked for special events and on request from her family. Of all of Del's hobbies; travel was at the top of her list. She LOVED to be on an airplane and always wanted a window seat to look out during the ride. As a teenager, Del traveled from Mississippi to Chicago and California on the bus and train to visit her aunts and other relatives. Those trips fostered a sense of adventure in Del and throughout the years, she coupled her love for learning and travel, visiting cultural and historic sites throughout the world. A dream and goal for Del was to visit all 50 United States., That dream became a reality in 2021 when she and her daughter, Tyesha, visited North Dakota as her 50th state! Del was so excited and thrilled as she accomplished her lifelong goal. She visited n countries during her life and often marveled at how the "girl from Greenwood, Mississippi" was able to see and experience the world. Del shared this important milestone, like many others, with whom she described as, "the greatest and proudest love of my life," her daughter, Tyesha. Tyesha was Del's "one and only" child and she loved her "Ty" with all her heart. Del was a devoted mother and ensured a strong foundation for her daughter. She was supportive, caring, and encouraging and made sure her daughter knew the Lord from an early age. She and Tyesh, were great travel partners and Del always had her suitcase packed, ready for the next mother/daughter adventure. Del and Tyesha always shared a special bond which grew even stronger during Del's latter years. As mother and daughter, Del and Tyesha also had the blessing of being "legacy" FINER women, as members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Del loved her sorority and her sorority sisters and proudly served Zeta for over 50 years! During her tenure in the sisterhood, she welcomed many new members to the sorority including her own sister, Sherry, while in college. Del was charter member of Theta Alpha Zeta chapter in Rochester, NY, and was an active member of Alpha Phi Zeta chapter in Richmond, VA where she held various leadership roles for over 30 years in the chapter. Del was devoted to Zeta and was honored as a Zeta Dove to commemorate her long years of dedicated and continuous membership and service to her sorority. Del was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Melvin Carpenter, Jr., cousin, and namesake, Delquincy Green Berkhalter, mother-in-law, Beatrice Capers, and her beloved Granddog, Grace. She is survived and will be lovingly remembered and cherished by her devoted daughter, Tyesha Marie Capers Gray of Atlanta, GA; one sister, Sherry A. Carpenter of Oakland, CA; one brother, Kevin Craig Carpenter of Indianapolis, IN; two nephews, Eric Love of Oakland, CA and Colby Carpenter of Indianapolis, IN, three dedicated aunts, Julia Green and Gladys Green of Oakland, CA, and Lucile Hall of Manvel, TX, and a host of family members, church members, sorority sisters, classmates, fellow educators, and loyal life-long friends. There certainly are not enough words to adequately capture the life, legacy, and spirit of Delquency Carpenter Capers. While she had a quiet demeanor, her zest for life was unmistakable and will be sorely missed. A life lived with love, gratitude, strength, and courage; it is apparent that she impacted the lives of so many. She leaves this physical life with abundant love, admiration, and respect. We will forever cherish the memories shared with Del during her lifetime, and honor her for the lasting impacts and footprints she has left on all of our hearts.

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Delquency Carpenter Capers

February 12, 1950 - January 4, 2023