Obituary of Doris E. Dennis

Doris E. Edmunds, the third child of the late Aurthur and Susie Edmunds, was born on November 3, 1937, in Lynchburg, Virginia. She was called to receive her heavenly wings on May 12, 2022. Doris, known to many friends and classmates as “Dot”, attended the Lynchburg School System, graduating from the Dunbar High School in 1955, with honors. Being a tremendous speller, Doris was crowned District Spelling Champion, in a local spelling competition. Doris showed a large interest in sports and was even co-captain of the Gold Team Cheerleaders Seeking additional education, Doris moved to Chester, PA to live with her two aunts in 1955. She began attending William Penn Business College, specializing in Business Accounting Techniques, with a minor in Business Law. Upon graduating from William Penn, Doris gained employment at the central branch of the Y.M.C.A. located on Arch Street in Philadelphia, PA. She was the principal head cashier for all of the Y.M.C.A.s in the region, handling all bank deposits. As a head camp registrar, she was responsible for camps in South Jersey, as well as camps in the Philadelphia and surrounding vicinity. She was the lead person in organizing children’s arrival and departure arrangements, camp programs, and camp meals as well as the implementation of nutritious snacks. From 1963 to 1985, Doris devoted herself to caring for her 3 boys and managing the household. Doris, affectionately known by her husband Donald as “Sweetie”, returned to the workforce as the secretary of the King’s Christian School of Cherry Hill, NJ. Her next employment endeavor took Doris to ADP as an Accounts Payable Specialist, using her business knowledge to manage employee expense reports, for accuracy and proper approval. She also managed invoice payments of various business accounts braced between A and D. Sweetie retired from ADP after 12 years of continuous service. Doris accepted Christ at the tender age of 11, at the Rivermont Baptist Church, of Lynchburg VA. As she matured in the fatih, she was active in the choir, as a Sunday School, VBS, and Awana teacher, as well as an outreach worker. Doris had a strong affiliation with the Afro-American Missionary Crusade, whose overseas involvement helped provide for educational facilities and a mission station in Bopola outside Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. In later years she served faithfully by being involved with The New Jersey Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows, with state ramifications. She also served with the Agape Chapter, at the board level. Sweetie had a cooking style all her own. Coming from a family of outstanding, award winning cooks, she continued the tradition with special dishes such as her noodle strudel, second to none corn pudding, the sweetest of sweet potato casseroles, the lightest, fluffiest home-made dinner rolls, and an outstanding strawberry shortcake. In passing, she leaves memories: her loving husband, Reverend Donald E. Dennis; sons Keith E. Dennis, Bruce L. Dennis, and Eric S. Dennis; a close cousin, Jean Johnson; sister-in-law, Diann Dennis; nieces, Lori Johnson and Leslie Guy; and a host of family cousins.