Dolores Brown Obituary

Dolores O. Brown

Sep 24, 1933 - Feb 25, 2023

Sandusky

Dolores O. (Boulware) Brown, 89, died peacefully in the early morning hours Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at her daughter's home. Her children, Stephanie, Zachary, Tamara, and Valerie were at her bedside, as was her daughter-in-love, Lisa.

Dolores was born Sept. 24, 1933, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to Loomis Boulware and Thelma Jones. She was raised by her paternal step-grandmother in Anderson, South Carolina. Upon graduating from Anderson High School in 1951, Dolores returned to Oklahoma to attend Langston University, in Langston, Oklahoma (a historically black college/university). Dolores received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Langston in 1954.

While attending Langston, Dolores met Curtis Asa Brown, also a student at Langston in the School of Religion. Curtis and Dolores were married by Dr. Calvin K. Stalnaker on Dec. 19, 1954, at the historic First Baptist Church of North Tulsa, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After pastoring Bethel Baptist Church, in Omaha, Nebraska for 10 years, Curtis was called to pastor Ebenezer Baptist Church, Sandusky, and the family moved to Sandusky in April, 1966, where they served until Curtis' retirement from the pastorate Dec. 31, 2007.

Dolores was the choir director at Ebenezer for many years before passing the torch to her daughter, Valerie. She was a member of Busy Bee Circle and faithfully attended Sunday School and Wednesday night prayer meetings. She was active in Ohio Baptist General Convention (OBGC), Northern Ohio Baptist District Association and Sandusky Sub-District of the OBGC. She was a faithful member of Interdenominational Minister's Wives and Minister's Widows of Sandusky and Vicinity for many years. In 2015, she was honored as Wife of the Year by Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and in 2022, Ebenezer Baptist Church honored her for her faithful service to the church.

During her early years in Sandusky, Dolores was employed as a teacher with Community Action Commission (CAC). She was then employed by State of Ohio's Driver's License Bureau for 22 years, retiring in 1998.

Dolores will be dearly missed by her children, Dr. Eric H. Brown and his wife, Charlesia of Columbus, Suzanne R. Keaton of Huron, Stephanie E. Mayfield and her husband, John of Huron, Minister Zachary M. Brown and his wife, Lisa of Columbus, Minister Valerie M. Whittaker of Huron, Tamara A. Byrd Columbus, and Timothy A. Brown and his wife, Tara, of Brush, Colorado; foster son, Alvin Greear and his wife, Kim, of Sandusky; 20 grandchildren, Adrianne Hopgood, Angela Long, Alisha Long, Seth Brown-Bright and his husband, Eric, R. Amanda Brown, Jayson Brown, Pierre Nelson, Marcus Brown and his wife, Chanel, Cherise Caston, Ahmaad Mathis, Zachary Brown II, Camryn Brown, Jada Whittaker, Damondre Moultrie, Andrew Moultrie, Marlon Bryd and his wife, Shonna, Andre Byrd, Ebonie Appling, Timothy Brown, and Cassidy Brown; 27 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; cherished son-in-love, George Whittaker of Huron; sisters, Mary Thomas and her husband, Edward, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Anita Marina and her husband, Booker, of Carrollton, Texas; nieces, Lisa Griffin, Dr. Ja'za Marina, and Nakia Jackson; nephews, LaMarr Moss, Booker Marina III, and Aaron Thomas; Boulware Cousins, who are more like siblings, Billy Boulware, Ralph Boulware, Ronald Boulware, Ruth Harrison, Marilyn Hewlett, Hilda Boulware, and Linda Wilson; special cousin, Hope Smith; Goddaughters, Taylor Jordan and Shahar McSalters; dear friends, Charlotte Morris, Katie Stovall, Mary Alice Williams, and Tiffany Alexander; the September Birthday Crew; and many other friends and adopted family.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Pastor Curtis Asa Brown; parents, Loomis Boulware, Thelma Jones Buffington, and Raymond Buffington; daughter, Dr. Rosita Long, Ph.D.; grandparents; brother, Gerald Buffington; grandsons, W. Keith Bray II and Jonathan Mayfield; son-in-love, Michael Byrd; parents-in-law; brothers-in-law; and aunts, uncles, and dear friends.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 2023, until the time of Dolores' funeral at 12 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1215 Pierce St., Sandusky. Entombment will follow at Oakland Cemetery.

She will be remembered for her smile, kindness, purple patch in her hair, and ability to make you laugh!

Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, is handling arrangements.

Condolences may be made to the family by visiting toftfuneralhome.com.