Dolores Thressa Preston

Dolores Thressa Preston, a beloved, devoted follower of Christ, peacefully entered into the presence of the Lord on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 after 96 ½ years of life. She had such a strong determination to overcome any illnesses and believed in miracles. She had a strong will to live. She overcame two epidemics, the Scarlet Fever Epidemic in the 1920s and the Covid Epidemic in 2020. Dolores, affectionately known as Dee, was born on July 21, 1928, in Washington, D.C. to the late Sarah Jones Walker and the late James Collins. At an early age, Dolores relocated to Charlottesville, Virginia where she received her formal education through the Charlottesville public school system. Dolores graduated from Jefferson High School, a segregated high school for African American students, in 1946. As a young teen, she was employed by the University of Virginia Hospital,proudly working in the medical clinic, delivering charts all over the hospital. Dolores caught eyes with the love of her life, Charlie Preston at a local community gathering. When she walked in, the song “Can’t Keep My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli was playing on the radio. Charlie literally could not keep his eyes off of this beautiful lady. After relocating to Baltimore, Maryland, to live with relatives, Charlie and Dolores were married on August 3, 1948, and from this union, they were blessed with five children. Dolores showed the love of Christ through taking care of her family, as a stay-at-home mom. She furthered her education by studying nursing and attending home economics and dressmaking programs at Carver Vocational High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Dolores later worked in a Daycare center, caring for children, and seasonally worked at the United States Post Office to save enough money to purchase a home with her husband. In 1952 Dolores and Charlie proudly moved into their first home on Ellicott Drive, where they were both pillars of that community. As a child, Dolores was introduced to Christian living and the concept of the church by her mother. She was a faithful member, serving on multiple ministries at Zion Union Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia. In 1949 Dolores joined Simmons Memorial Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD, under the leadership of Reverend Brooks, where sheserved on the choir and as the Secretary of the Simmons Memorial Club. She gave her life to Christ and developed long-standing friendships for over 45 years. She was a faithful member of the Conference Call Sunday School class at Simmons Memorial. In addition, she frequently visited Word of Life Christian Community Church under the leadership of the Senior Pastor Bishop Jermaine Johnson and Pastor Michelle Johnson. She was a faithful attendee of the Daughters of Virtual and Victory (DOVV) 6:00 AM Monday morning prayer call, where she was lovingly given the name “Queen DOVV”. She touched so many lives with her encouraging words and her sweet presence. Dolores’ loyalty and devotion to her family can not be overlooked. She was a caregiver for her grandmother, her mother, her husband, her children, and her grandchildren. Dolores loved to travel to Virginia and stop at the WAWAs and Millers along the way. She enjoyed so many laughs at her favorite restaurant, The Wood Grill. Anyone who knew Dolores knew her favorite foods were crab cakes, hotdogs, shrimp pasta salad, coconut cake, chocolate candy, hot tea, and lemonade. Dolores had a strong will to live. Doctors described her as “incredible, unbelievable, a fighter, a gift, amazing, and easy to love”. Dolores would often tell her doctors that she believes in miracles. Through all her health challenges, she worked hard to get better and keep a positive outlook. Together with her devoted daughter, Margo they journeyed on the road to a well-lived life.Dolores found comfort at “Zodiac Court” with the Scotts. She often shared her wisdom with statements, “If you can withstand the crisis, it will work itself out” and “Pretty is as Pretty does”. Dolores was a devoted wife and mother. She gave of herself sacrificially and always wanted her children to be successful in all areas of life. She sang as she tidied up her home making it an environment of love and compassion. Proverbs 31:27-29. Her favorite hymns were Precious Lord, How Great Thou Art, and Oh How I Love Jesus. Her favorite scriptures were Psalm 23, and Psalm 121 “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth”. She leaves to cherish her legacy: her children Charlene Preston Bennett, Charlie Preston Jr. (Corlis), Douglas Preston (Yvette), Rhonda Mack, Margo Preston Scott (Michael), 15 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, two Sister in laws June P. Bailey of Trenton, New Jersey, and Marjorie Preston of Washington, DC, a special cousin Deloris Kirby, nieces, nephews, and a host of family and friends.

Tributes

Dolores Thressa Preston

July 21, 1928 - March 25, 2025