Dorothy Mae Russum

Dorothy Mae Russum was born on February 27, 1941, to her anxiously-waiting parents: Maude Nixon Batts and John Larkin Batts. She answered the call of her Heavenly Father and quietly departed this life on Monday, January 21, 2019, at Bay Health Kent General Hospital, Dover, DE. She was 77 years old. Dot, as she was lovingly called, received her education in the Brooklyn, New York School systems, including PS27 Elementary School, John Marshall Junior High School and Clara Barton High School. Her primary places of employment were with Black Pearl Car Service as a dispatcher and at Kirby Vacuum Cleaner as a phone solicitor. In 1955, Dot met the man who was to become the love of her life, Charles Russum, Sr., and, in July, 1978, she married Charles in Baltimore, Maryland. To that union, God blessed them with a son, Charles Dabney. In addition, from her previous marriage to William Dabney, Dorothy was blessed with two other beautiful children, Henry William Batts and Denise “Niecy” Dabney. Friends and family alike would agree that Dot was a kind-hearted person who would give her last to someone in need. Because of that wonderful characteristic, she loved crocheting baby blankets that she often gave to the Maternity Ward at Kent General Hospital and to Mom’s House, both in Dover. She especially loved family gatherings. She also very much enjoyed making and sending greeting cards to people on the sick and shut-in list at Calvary and to friends and family. Among a few other skills she had, Dot never met a camera she didn’t like, as she loved taking photos of family and friends. She also thoroughly enjoyed cooking and finding someone to taste her newest creations. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, until her health declined and did not allow her to attend any longer. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her 3 brothers, Harlee Bates, Joseph Batts, and James Batts; a son, Henry William Batts; a sister, Ruth Nixon; a mother-in-law, Lillian Russum; a father-in-law, Fred Russum; 2 brothers-in-law, Donnie Russum and Alfred DeShields; a daughter-in-law, Deborah Tracy Dabney; and two grandchildren, Shawanna Dabney and Niara Russum. She leaves to cherish her memory: her loving husband, Charles Russum, Marydel, DE; her daughter, Denise Dabney (Arthur Burney, Sr.), Brooklyn, NY; a son, Charles Dabney, Acworth, GA; 15 grandchildren, Kawan, Lavar, Sharida, Arthur, Iyana, Taya, Tatiana, LaVaughn, Tamia, Lloyd, Larry, Marie, Danny, Anthony, and Frankie; 29 Great-grandchildren; 6 sisters-in-law, Gloria Russum, Del City, OK; Virginia Bates, Hempstead, Long Island, NY; Pearl “Sis” DeShields, Gerol Jackson and Gloria DeShields, all of Philadelphia, PA and Marlenea Salmu, Honolulu, Hawaii; a brother-in-law, Earl DeShields, Philadelphia, PA; a special daughter-in law, Alverais “Tank” Brooks-Fisher, Concord, NC; a god-daughter, Andrea Riggins, New York, NY; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Dorothy Mae Russum

February 27, 1940 - January 21, 2019