Dolores Irene Hughes

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Making her grand entrance on September 22, 1934, Dolores Irene Ellerbe Hughes was the youngest of five children born to Thomas Rex Ellerbe, Sr and Charlotte Mae Breckenridge.  She was affectionately known to her family and close friends as Doe or DoeDoe.  Growing up in Washington DC, Doe met the man of her dreams, Bill Hughes, literally, at her front door.  He was the Godfather to the daughter of Doe’s older sister, Anne and came to visit.  The rest is history!  They were married for 65 years, before his death in 2018.  She was a devoted and loving mother to her three children: David, who preceded her in death in 2013, Stephen and Gwendolyn. 

Doe was a trendsetter, not only in her fashion choices but in her career as well.  She was a stay-at-home Mom before moving to NY, at the suggestion of her longtime sister-friend, Ilean Dixon. With her three children in tow, the family moved to Rosebank in Staten Island NY in 1965. Settling in an apartment above the C&L Cleaners owned by Charles Parker, Doe took a job there as a part-time seamstress.  It was during that time that two more kids were added to the family: Patricia “Patty Parker” Thomas and Billy Jackson.  They have been constants in the Hughes family ever since.  After working at the cleaners for a couple of years or so, Doe took a job working in an office for Ma Bell, known today as Verizon.  After being behind a desk for a few years, she ventured into a new field and became one of the first female cable installers, climbing poles on the streets of New York. In 1968, the Hughes’ moved from Rosebank to West Brighton, where she lived in the same house until her death.  Within that time, the Hughes’ acquired many more children, with Lisa Briggs Spivak being the first in line.  The list of bonus children is too long to mention everyone, but you know who you are!  Doe eventually retired from Verizon and enjoyed time “on the road” traveling the world with her husband who played with the Count Basie Orchestra for more than 55 years.

The story of Doe would not be complete without mentioning her life-long sister and best friend of 80 years, Mable Evans.  They attended junior high school together in Washington DC, and have been “besties” for life!  What a blessing.

Doe was a member of Mt. Sinai United Christian Church for more than 30 years, where she made many friends …and added more surrogate children!  They called her Mother Doe.  For more than seven years, whenever visiting with Gwen, she was a small group member of the Life On Life Women’s Bible Study every Tuesday morning at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. 

Dolores Irene Ellerbe Hughes left a lasting impression, with her big beautiful smile and bubbly personality!  Her life will be celebrated by her children Stephen (Wendy) and Gwendolyn; her grandchildren: David (TJ), Alteriek, Jessica (Rufus), Anthony, Sean (Christina), and Kelly (Joey); and her great grandchildren: Makayla, Teriek, Zori, Ella, Nini, Nyla and Jude.  She was Aunt Doe to her nieces, Teddi and Vicki and nephews, Keenan and Kelton.  She also had a special relationship with her grandnieces and nephews. Whew!!!  Suffice it to say that she was VERY loved by her family.

During this specific time of need, the family would like to extend a special thank you to Rev. Yvonne Stradford for loving our mother in life and tending to her in death; to Rashalee Smith for always being our “ram in the bush”; and to LaWanda Hines for always making herself available to do whatever was needed. We appreciate you more than you can know.

The family also wishes to acknowledge with appreciation all of the kind expressions of sympathy sent via cards, phone calls, text messages and comments on social media.  

If anyone would like to make a monetary expression of sympathy, the family would love for you to make a donation to The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, or to your favorite charity, in remembrance of Bill and Doe Hughes.

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