Biography: We are all given the gift of life, and then we are called by the Lord to come on home. We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Dolores. Dolores Croom- Johnson departed her earthly home and took her eternal rest November 26, 2019.
Dolores was born on October 9, 1951 in Demopolis, Alabama to Farris and Gladys Croom (nee Coleman). Dolores attended U.S. Jones Elementary School. When she was 12 years old, Dolores and her parents moved to the Bronx, NY. She then attended Paul Lawrence Dunbar J.H.S. 120. and graduated from Evander Childs High School. She continued her education and received a Nursing Degree from CUNY college of Staten Island, in 1971.
From 1971-1975, Dolores worked at Bellevue Hospital as a Nursing Assistant. After leaving there, she became a Health Aide at New York City Board Of education at Morris High School and P.S. 4 in the Bronx, NY until 1981. She found her calling at Jane
Addams Vocational High School, in 1982, as a paraprofessional where she retired from in June 2009 as a member of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT).
She became a member of Upper Room Baptist Church as a teenager, where she was baptized by Rev. T.A. Allen. Remaining a participating member of the Pastor’s Aide and Woman’s Day Committee. She loved her church family, when she couldn’t make it to church, she still made sure her tithes were paid.
Dolores loved people, especially children; and those who were in need, if she could feed the whole neighborhood she would. To her family and friends, she was known as ‘Tot’. To know her was to love her. She had a very slick mouth, but it was all in love. To her, honesty was the best policy. If you didn’t want the truth, don’t ask her; because she would give you the truth! Point blank and raw, and had no problem doing so. Family meant everything to Dolores. She made sure that a phone call was made to every family member on their birthday and was present at all special occasions, especially bar-b-ques.
Dolores met the love of her life Randolph L. Johnson in 1985. They started as close friends and originally, she was trying to hook him up with a friend. But things didn’t work out that way. They began dating in 1986 and married July of 1999.
Dolores Croom was preceded in death by her mother and Father Gladys and Deacon Farris Croom; her husband, Randolph L. Johnson; her uncle Willie Coleman and one nephew DeAngelo Croom.
She was survived by her son Leven Croom; one stepson Randolph Hamilton Jr and his wife Nicole Hamilton; God sons Anthony and Gerald; Daughter in law Robin Martinez-Dixon; Granddaughters Leah Bennett, Suzanne Bennett, and Taja Hamilton; Grandsons Chinier Bennett, Randolph Hamilton III, Takee Hamilton, Tre Hamilton, and Tyler Hamilton; one Brother, John Henry Thomas, and his Wife Helen Thomas; one Sister, Dorothy Bean-Cooley; one Aunt, Freddie Hassell, who was more of a sister, and her husband, Uncle William Hassell; Uncle Alfred and his wife, Aunt Lisa Coleman; Sister in law Gloria Johnson; Ronald Coleman, a cousin, who she viewed as a little brother;Nephews Arthur Thomas, Brian Hassell, Deveritk(Cat) Croom; Nieces Michelle Thomas and Keasha Thomas, Erica and Anzell Coleman, Catrice and Felicia Hassell. She is also survived by a host of loving Great nephews and nieces, cousins, and friends.
