Dolores Dickerson-Thomas

Dr. Dolores P. Dickerson-Thomas, 89, passed peacefully on August 20, 2020 in her son's home in Silver Spring, Maryland. Dolores was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was a dedicated member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Black Ski Club, St. Georges Episcopal Church in Washington, DC and later, a member of St. Johns Baptist Church in Columbia, Maryland. Dolores was born to Carmen Hinton and James Pawley on June 6, 1931 in Englewood, New Jersey. Carmen and James Pawley later relocated with Dolores and her sister Carmen, to the Washington Metropolitan area in the early 1940's. Dolores' priority was always her family. She loved her only son Michael, her daughter-in-law Carmen, granddaughter Dolores (known by many as Loli) and grandson Miguel unconditionally, and they served as her caretaker during her long illness. She was a dedicated wife to Edward Thomas for 22 years. Through perseverance while working full time and caring for her family, Dolores earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University, and from the University of Maryland, a Master's Degree, and in 1975, a Doctoral Degree in Elementary Education with a specialty in Reading in 1975. She then became a devoted professor of Reading at the School of Education, Howard University, in Washington, DC, from 1973-2006. She retired in 2006 as professor emeritus. Dr. Dickerson-Thomas was a much loved professor innovator in the instruction of Reading to prospective teachers of reading, especially to students with handicapping conditions. She believed that reading was fundamental, and every child should be able to read. She was a "teacher of teachers," Her many students, mentees, and interns follow in her footsteps, and are now a part of her legacy. She also worked as a consultant with Booze Allen and Hamilton, as well as the U.S Department of Education as a field reader of grant proposals. Dolores loved dancing, reading, making gift baskets, shopping and celebrating life each day with a smile and laughter with family members, colleagues, and her many close friends. She was predeceased by her mother Carmen Pawley (nee Hinton), her father James A. Pawley and her sister Carmen Turner. She is survived by her husband, Edward Thomas, her son, Michael Spraggins, and daughter-in-law, Carmen Spraggins, 5 grandchildren Claudia, Ramon, William, Dolores, and Miguel as well as her poodle Lady Noelle.