Grace Delores Stephenson

Grace Delores Stephenson, 87, went home to be with her Lord, October 30, 2022. Grace was 87; she joins her husband Isaac Badger Stephenson III, her Aunt Grace McDowell, and her four sister-in-laws.  She is survived by her Daughters Cathy Stephenson of Montclair, NJ, Karen Stephenson of North Brookfield, MA and her grandchildren Ellis Berman, Ziehal Stephenson-Sweeney, Ayre Stephenson-Sweeney, Nyl Sweeney, Charmaine Sweeney, Sydney Sweeney and Cieanna Sweeney; nieces and nephews, and a myriad of honorary children and grandchildren whom she loved. Grace Delores, known by Delores, Dee or DeeDee by her family, was born in Washington, DC in 1935, and raised by her grandfather, a minister, and her aunt Grace, a teacher, in Fairmount Heights, MD. 

Grace Delores attended Dunbar High School, Minors Teachers College (now University of the District of Columbia), Gallaudet University, and Hampton University earning a Master’s in Deaf Education, and receiving her School Administration Certification. In 1972 Grace was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship, traveling to Essex England to teach at a school for the blind and deaf. And yes, as a Fulbright Fellow she had tea with the Queen. 

From a young age, Delores was called to serve those in need, to fight for those without power, to stand on the line against injustice, and most importantly to demand that everyone in her orbit learn that others come before self. At the age of 7, Grace Delores was already caring for others, stealing food out of her kitchen to feed the homeless. In her late 20’s she was participating in lunch counter sit-ins, facing injury and violence including having her front teeth smashed by a police baton. With her husband, Ike, they volunteered to feed marchers during the 1963 March on Washington. She was a staunch advocate for the desegregation of schools and neighborhoods, being the first African American family to desegregate both the predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Glen Echo, in Bethesda, MD, and Rutherford, in Fairfax, Va.  

Grace Delores taught for the District of Columbia (DCPS) school system teaching deaf and blind students. In 1980, she created summer house cleaning jobs for the family teens. By the fall, Grace grew the concept to include her DCPS physically challenged students calling her program Rent-A-Teen. Rent-A-Teen was nationally recognized and the District School system adopted it into its vocational education program. When she retired Grace went on to create the church adoption program linking local churches to schools in the District. The program serviced District schools providing tutoring, teacher and facilities support. After 9/11 Grace organized trunk sales in the Washington, DC area for the merchants with stores surrounding ground zero. She was always organizing, espousing the need for community involvement, and living what she preached. 

Grace Delores spent her final years in Montclair, NJ where she again embedded her brand of service, and fierce compassion. She began volunteering in Newark Public Schools and supported homeless families.  

Grace Delores was a member of St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church in Fairfax, Va, and Union Congregational of Montclair, NJ. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, The Links, AAUW, and Delta Kappa Gamma. Grace received many awards and recognitions for her programs and services throughout the years, including the WUSA channel 9 One and Only Nine Award  in Washington, DC and the National Council of Black Women and Frito Lay Make Things Happen Award.

Grace Delores was a loving wife, and mother. She was tiny stature and a force of nature. She leaves a legacy and a call for all of us to step up. 

The service honoring Grace Delores Stephenson will be held November 19th at 9:30 a.m. at St. James Episcopal  Church of Montclair, NJ.

 In lieu of flowers, the family asks for you to volunteer your time for a few hours at your local school or shelter.