Obituary

Elsie Lorraine Dewberry, the daughter of the late Edward Kelly and Pearl Kelly, was born on November 6, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She departed this life on Saturday, August 29, 2020 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Natalie and Kevin Moore in Hainesport, New Jersey. Elsie was preceded in death by her husband Henry and siblings, Hazel, Geraldine, Frances, and Vernon.

Elsie attended public schools in Philadelphia and graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1955. She later obtained a Bachelor’s of Arts in Elementary Education from Coppin State College in Baltimore, MD (1974). She also obtained her Master’s degree in Education from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD (1980).  She became a teacher and taught for almost 40 years in both public and private schools in Baltimore, Maryland and Ojai, California. Besides her passion for education, learning, and reading; she spent much of her time working with her church Payne Memorial AME in Jessup, Maryland serving as President of the Women’s Missionary Society and serving on the board of the Washington Area Missionary Society. Elsie also joined the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (1983) and enjoyed working on their many community activities. 

In 1955 she met the love of her life, Henry L Dewberry and the two married in 1956. Their marriage lasted almost 64 years. From this union they had four children, Henry Jr, Allen, Natasha, and Natalie. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, Khaalida, Allen Jr, Chantae, Edward, Kevin Jr, Lauren, and Dunja. Mom Mom, as she was called, would be one of her grandchildren’s first teachers. 

Elsie enjoyed traveling and visiting with relatives and old friends. She lived most of her life in Maryland; with stops in Philadelphia, PA , Willingboro and Palmyra, NJ; and Oxnard, Ca. She had become sick the past few years and passed away 7 months after her husband Henry.

Elsie leaves to cherish many fond memories, her 4 children Henry Dewberry Jr., Allen Dewberry Sr. (Jacqueline), Natasha Dewberry, and Natalie Dewberry-Moore (Kevin R. Moore, Sr.); 6 grandchildren; Khaalida Dewberry, Allen Dewberry Jr., Chantae Moore (Edward Agnew Jr.), Edward Dewberry, Kevin Moore Jr., Lauren Dewberry, and Dunja Dewberry; 3 great grandchildren including Zoe Agnew and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.