Search Archived Marriage Records
Mary Jane Dewberry, 85
DOVER - Mary Jane Dewberry of Dover died of heart failure Monday, March 19, 2001, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. She was 85.
Ms. Dewberry was born Dec. 11, 1915, in White Eagle, Okla.
She was a member of Bethel Baptist in Miami and Central Baptist in Dover.
She is survived by Donna Dunbar of Dover; Markyn Graham, of Miami; Leslie of New Carrollton, Md.; Carolyn of Cottage City, Md.; Kenneth of District Heights, Md.; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.
Memorial service will be 5 p.m. Saturday at Union Missionary Baptist Church, 883 Lincoln St., Dover. The Rev. Michael and France Rogers will officiate.
Catherine Lavena Giddins, 87
DOVER - Catherine Lavena Giddins died Saturday, March 17, 2001, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital in Dover. She was 87.
Mrs. Giddins was born August 20, 1916, in North Hampton County, Va., the daughter of the late Wilmer and Clair Stevens.
She attended the North Hampton County School.
During her life she met and married Wilmer Giddins and after his death moved to Belle Glade, Fla., where she met Herbert Johnson. They began to travel back and forth from Florida to Delaware, where they became very successful contractors.
In the early 1960s, she confessed faith in Christ and joined the Mount Zion A.M.E Church, where she served many years on the usher board. In her travels she touched and helped so many people that they came to love her and respect her.
Known as "Mrs. Tiny Sis," she was small-framed but her smile and kindness said it all.
Mrs. Giddins relocated again in 1977 to Felton, where she bought her home and settled down.
She joined Mount Zion A.M.E Church in Camden-Wyoming, where she served faithfully as president of the usher board, stewardess board and the missionary board.
In 1999 she held honors as the president of the Mary I. Coldwell Missionary Society until her health began to fail in the middle of 2000.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Lorenzo Giddins; two daughters, Juanita and Berline Giddins; six brothers; and four sisters.
She is survived by a daughter, Irene Mcleish of Dover; three sons, Van Dyke Giddins of Rivers Beach, Fla., Wilmer and Earl Melton, both of Smyrna; a daughter-in-law, Joann Giddins of Rivers Beach; a son-in-law, Perry Gilbert of Felton; two sisters, Annie Reed of Salisbury, Md., and Thelma Reed of Belle Glade; 28 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren; 42 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Service will be noon Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church, Del. 8 in Dover, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in Gibbs Memorial Gardens, Woodside.
Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.
Helen M. Jewell, 77
MILLSBORO - Helen M. Jewell of Millsboro died Tuesday, March 20, 2001, in Lifecare at Lofland Park, Seaford. She was 77.
Ms. Jewell was born in Georgetown, the daughter of Ida Spicer Jewell of Georgetown and the late Frank Henry Jewell.
She served in the Women's Army Corp.
She was the owner and operator of Action Print and Litho in Houston, Texas, retiring in 1987 after 27 years.
Ms. Jewell loved to travel, including several trips to foreign countries, and she enjoyed fishing.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Jewell; and her beloved friend, Effie.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by four brothers, Luthur F. Jewell, and his wife, Ella, with whom she lived, Charles W. Jewell, and his wife, Mary, of Georgetown, William E. Jewell, and his wife, Sue, of Seaford, and Frank J. Jewell, and his wife, Dana, of Pittsvilles, Md.; two sisters, Barbara Wilkinson of Georgetown and Aretta Ryan, and her husband, Thomas, of Essington, Pa.; and several nieces and nephews.
Service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in Millsboro Cemetery.
Shirley L. Johnson, 47
MILLSBORO - Shirley L. Johnson of Millsboro died Sunday, March 18, 2001, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. She was 47.
Miss Johnson was born in Whaleyville, Md., the daughter of Catherine Johnson of Frankford.
She worked at Showell Farms in Showell, Md., prior to her illness.
She loved writing poetry and songs for Christ.
Miss Johnson was a member of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ in Selbyville.
She is survived by a son and his wife, with whom she lived, Rick and Susan Johnson; three sisters, Vera Neal of Bridgeville, Evalene Johnson of Frankford and Lisa Johnson of Slaughter Neck; two brothers, Calvin L. Johnson of Frankford and Morgan Johnson, and his wife, Charlotte, of Seaford; and two grandchildren, Jo Van Johnson and Rick Johnson Jr.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, Roxana Road in Selbyville, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. The Rev. James R. Johnson will officiate.
Burial will be in Curtis Church Cemetery, Campbelltown Road, Bishopville.
Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro.
Lily May Payne, 72
NORTH EAST, Md. - Lily May Payne of North East died Tuesday, March 20, 2001, in Union Hospital of Cecil County, Elkton. She was 72.
Mrs. Payne was born May 14, 1929, in Hockessin, the daughter of the late John Clinton Kunkel Jr. and Marian D. Johnson Kunkel.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Payne was a member of VFW Post 8175 in Elkton, Moose Lodge in Elkton and St. Jude's Roman Catholic Church in North East.
She is survived by her husband, Richard D. Payne of North East; six children, Joseph J. Yakscoe of West Grove, Pa., Lily M. Sudler of Philadelphia, Shirley A. Simmons of Hartly, Luciano Flores of Braidwood, Ill., Migdalia Flores of Worcester, Mass., and Carol Pursell of New York; a sister, Mary E. Rash of New Castle; two sons, John Kunkel of Townsend and Robert Kunkel; 17 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Friday at Crouch Funeral Home, 127 S. Main St., North East.
Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Jude's Roman Catholic Church, St. Jude's Church Road, North East. The Rev. Daniel McGlynn, of St. Jude's Roman Catholic Church, North East, will officiate.
Burial will be private.
Sara Ritter, 82
COLUMBIA, Pa. - Sara Ritter of Columbia died Wednesday, March 21, 2001, in Essaflory Hospice, Lancaster. She was 82.
Mrs. Ritter was born June 14, 1918, in Dover, Del., the daughter of the late George and Estella (Jones) Holt.
She attended nursing school and worked as a nurse and secretary.
Mrs. Ritter enjoyed playing bridge and swimming.
She is survived by her husband, John T. Ritter of Columbia; five sons, Donald T. Ritter of Charlotte, N.C., John D. Ritter of Scotia, N.Y., George D. Ritter of Mount Holly, N.J., Michael C. Ritter of Chadds Ford and Mark F. Ritter of Lititz; two brothers, Irving Holt and George Holt, both of Dover; a sister, Orlena Moore of Dover; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from 9-9:30 a.m. Friday at Torbert Funeral Chapel, 61 S. Bradford St., Dover.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Dover.
Burial will be in Holy Cross Catholic Church Cemetery.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Hospice of Lancaster County, Essaflory Center, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125.
Marie C. Ruggiero, 58
HARTLY - Marie C. Ruggiero of Hartly died Monday, March 19, 2001, in her home. She was 58.
Mrs. Ruggiero was born May 16,1942, the daughter of the late Charles J. and Dorothea M. (Weaver) Schumann.
She was a homemaker and loved animals.
She is survived by three sons, Paul J. Ruggiero Jr. of Belleville, N.J., Louis C. Ruggiero Sr. of Smyrna and Ralph J. Ruggiero Sr. of Fredericksburg, Va.; and nine grandchildren, Richard, Robert, Paulie, Louie Jr., Anthony, Anna Maria, Jackie, Ashley and Ralph Jr.
Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Friday in Lakeside Cemetery, North State Street, Dover.
Arrangements by Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover.
