Dorothy Bluford's Obituary
Dorothy Bluford was born on September 14, 1922, in Morganza, Louisiana, to Elliott Hastings and Bessie Clarke. She was raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by her uncle and aunt, John and Maude Hastings.
Dorothy loved the Lord and confessed Christ at an early age.
She attended Catholic schools at an early age before moving to New Orleans with her mother, Bessie Clarke. There she attended public schools and later graduated from MacDonald 35 High School.
She later met and married William Douglas who was in the U.S. Army, and to this union one daughter, Estella, was born. In 1944 Dorothy moved to California and began working at Naval Supply, where she met her lifelong best friend, Emily Reed.
In 1961 she married Jimmy Jackson, who was quite an outdoors-man. She became an active member of the Les Amis Social Club with good friends Josephine Lee, Emily Reed and Kate St. Clair.
In 1965 Dorothy began working at Kaiser Oakland as an x-ray technician in the Multiphasic Department. She retired after 20 years of faithful service in 1985.
In 1974 she married Willie Bluford. She became active with both the Californian and Berkeley Social Clubs. Together Dorothy and Willie helped plan and coordinate many of their functions. They enjoyed frequent trips to Reno with the Unique Elites and Renaissance Clubs as well as casino trips. She loved to dance and loved music, especially jazz. Her favorite vocalist was Dinah Washington.
Dorothy attended St. Lawrence O’Toole – St. Cyril Parish in Oakland, where she was an usher.
Some of the memories that Dorothy treasured most were spending time with her children. She really enjoyed having fun and dancing with her granddaughter when she was small. They would dance to James Brown, “Mother Popcorn”, in the living room of her 40th Street apartment.
She loved to prepare special meals for her daughter and granddaughter, such as salmon croquets with corn and rice; fried chicken, red beans and rice with cornbread; and shrimp with eggplant. She even made homemade ice cream!
She was a gracious lady who had a tremendous gift of hospitality. She loved to entertain and people always felt welcome in her home. She had a sweet disposition and a warm smile which will be missed.
Dorothy was a loving and loyal friend. She was affectionately called “Dottie”, “Dot” or “Girlfriend”. She was blessed with many lasting friendships.
Dorothy Bluford. beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, departed this life on December 30, 2015. She is now an Eternal Flower in God’s Heavenly Garden.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Elliott Hastings and Bessie Clarke.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of forty years, Willie Bluford; her loving and dedicated family, daughter and granddaughter, Estella and Tranishia Gholston of Hercules, CA; one brother, Elliott Hastings (Teri) of Baton Rouge, LA; adopted daughter, Shelley Dyer of Conifer, CO; special friends, Alma Stoker “Ennie”, Louise Jackson, Vera Smith, Gloria Bocage “Sylva”, Josephine Lee “Jo Lee”, Emily Reed “Girlfriend”; her Kaiser medical team and caregivers, as well as a host of relatives, nieces, nephews and friends.
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