Dolores Young-Watson Sunrise: September 27, 1939 Sunset: March 19, 2016 ²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good……. Romans 8:28English Standard Version (ESV) Dolores was born on September 27, 1939 in Carlton, Georgia.  Her parents Lillian Powers and James Fleming brought her to Chicago at an early age where she and her sisters were raised by their maternal grandparents, Mattie and Clyde Smith.  She accepted Christ in 1984 and was baptized at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois.  She later fellowshipped at Salem Baptist Church of Chicago when her health allowed. Dolores was educated in the Chicago Public School system.  She was employed by Time Inc. and Zayre Department store where she was an assistant manager until her health forced her into an early retirement. While retired Dolores loved to decorate, often taking the term “refurbished” to new levels as well as crochet and paint. In 2013 Dolores was diagnosed with Stage Four colon cancer and given only months to live, yet God blessed her with three more years during which she witnessed the birth of a new grandson and developed a closer relationship with the Lord thanks in part to the ministering of her son Michael who served as her primary caregiver. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, husbands Robert Young and Joseph Watson and her beloved sister Doris.  She leaves to cherish her memories: sister Marilyn Jackson; four children, Sylvia Bridges (James), Veronica Abney (Kevin), Michael, and Joseph Jr. (Rachel); grandchildren, Christopher and Cristen Adams, Nicole (Virginia) and Kevin Abney, Michael Jr., Andrea, Jasmine and Jeremy Watson and her youngest, Benjamin Watson as well as two great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends, neighbors, homemakers and medical professionals. The family thanks you for your prayers and many acts of kindness which have both blessed and strengthened us during this time.  We pray God’s blessings for you and yours as well.  Visitation 9am until time of service 11am Thursday, March 24, 2016 at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 West 55^th Street, Countryside.  Interment to follow at Washington Memory Gardens, Homewood.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the American Cancer Society or Seasons Hospice Foundation.  Funeral information 708/352-6500 Note from Nicole Abney, Granddaughter Nana, I will always admire and remember the colorfulness of your spirit.  Your life inspires me to take the canvas of life and paint it with whatever colors and textures I like.  It never mattered what others saw, you always saw the beauty in everything and person.  Didn’t matter if the colors went together or not, you had a way of making it captivating.  The unconditional love you consistently provided will always be the base of the colors I use to paint my life.  I can only hope my life canvas is full of color and texture as yours was. Love, Nicole Note from Sylvia Bridges, daughter Mama, We have shared so many memories and conversations but the memory I will hold forever is one of our last conversations.  You said “I’ve lived life my way, and I’m happy.  I have no regrets and whatever God has in store for my life is just fine with me.”  Mama, I pray I’m blessed enough to say those words before I go.  Thanks for the memory! I love you! Sylvia                                                                                                              Note from Joseph Watson, Jr., son                                                                                                         Mama, Where should I begin?  So much of what I am and have achieved, I owe to you.  My passions whether film or art, all things of beauty, even learning itself, trace their origins to you.  But, perhaps more importantly, the kind of person that I have aspired to be, a man of kindness, arose from you.  You indulged me, some would say overindulged, but you let me pursue my interests wherever they took me and as a child taught me that anything is possible and conversely nothing is impossible, much as Christ tried to convey to Peter on those rough waters on the Sea of Galilee.  Please pray for me and you shall remain in my thoughts and prayers forever, until we meet again.

Love always, Joe