Doris Elizabeth Eley

.Doris Elizabeth Eley, daughter of the late Charles and Evelyn Butler of Baltimore, Maryland, was born on March 22, 1930. She entered into eternal rest on May 11, 2002 after a short illness from Noble House (Nursing Home) assisted by special care from the Joseph Richey Hospice where she was loved and in very good care. She received her education in the Baltimore City School Public System. Doris was baptized at an early age and was active in Sunday school. In her teenage years she met and married John Eley. Their marital life ended through separation, and that’s when she met the love of her life, Robert Newman Smoot. Doris was blessed with twelve children and she raised all twelve after the death of Robert Smoot in 1966. She did so with no problems as far as finances due to the fact that she was employed numerous times as Nursing Aide at Franklin Square Hospital and University Hospital, as a Cook and in Housekeeping. Doris, known as “Momma Doris,” was a very strong and loving mother. She wanted the best for her kids and grands as well as her great-grandchildren. She planned her life around them. At times she seemed to be one of the daughters that she had because birthdays, Mother’s Day or any occasion she would have a wonderful time, laughing, dancing and kissing her loved ones. Momma Doris was very well known, there was not a time when other family members or friends of the family couldn’t knock on her door and say, “Momma Doris of Aunt Doris, of you’re cooking, I know I will eat a good hot meal or “I’m tired can I lay my head here and rest?” and Aunt Doris would say, “Child get in here, you know you don’t have to ask me that, you know I love you as if you were one of mine.” Her house was a house of hope and love. Everyone was welcome to come to her home. Oh! She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they came to visit her. They would come into the house and play; joke with her like she was one of their ages. But one thing she would tell her grand and great-grandchildren, “Don’t you break my knick-knacks put them back or Grandmom is going to get your butt” and everyone would laugh, then in response Mama would say, “Come get your kids out my living room.” Doris and her sisters are very close, as sisters should. They would call each other, sometimes they Would stop, catch up on things, and talk together for a long period of time. As they got up in age they would party together and loved each other very dearly. As time went by it became clearer, than it ever was before, that having a dear Mom like our mother is a lot to be thankful for. She gave a lot of love and happiness to everyone; the reason why our wishes bring love, the special kind that grows as time goes by. Doris leaves to cherish fond memories: five sons, Clarence Butler, Melvin Rochester Eley, Robert Dale Smoot, Robert Tyrone Smoot and Michael Kevin Smoot (two sons preceded her in death, John Eley and Eric Gregory Smoot); five daughters, Brenda Elizabeth Eley, Evelyn Annette Smoot, Shirley Lorraine Smoot, Julia Denise Smoot and Gloria Marie Smoot; thirty-nine grandchildren, four sisters, Eunice Edwards and Audrey Stokes, (Bernice Salliey deceased) and Delores Stokes (two brothers preceded her in death, Charles butler and Leon Lopaz); one aunt, Marie Cromwell; and one uncle, Clinton Jones; two daughters-in-law, Cynthia Eley and Cheryl Smoot; a host of nieces and nephews; and adopted daughter, Bridgette Turnage, who was loving and devoted as well as very instrumental in the caregiving of Doris; and other relatives and a host of friends. We must give special thanks and recognition to the late Elder Robert Smoot and Mother Julia Smoot as well as Robert’s sister, Shirley and his brothers and Doris’s family who supported this family in so many ways (spiritually as well as naturally). They were very close, just like any aunts and uncles would be to a family.

Tributes

Doris Elizabeth Eley

March 22, 1930 - May 11, 2002