Dorris P. Adams

An Angel Walks Amongst Us Dorris Payne Adams was born October 1, 1947 in Chester, PA to James and Nettie Vaughters Payne. Dorris was the 10th of 15 children which consisted of five boys and ten girls. Dorris was educated in the Chester school system attending Dewey Mann Elementary School, Douglass Junior High School, Pulaski Junior High School, and Chester High School from which she graduated in 1966. Dorris met the love of her life, Arnold “Butch” Adams, during high school, and he courted Dorris faithfully and visited her with regularity. They were married, within a couple years after graduating high school, on March 16, 1968. Butch and Dorris resided in Swarthmore, PA and lived with and cared for his mother, Catherine Adams, until her death. From their marriage, Butch and Dorris were blessed with two loving and devoted daughters, Danielle Adams and Dana Adams DeJarnette. Dorris was the proud grandmother of, and absolutely adored and cherished, her two grandchildren, Morgan (with whom she shares a birthday) and Ian DeJarnette. She was also the mother-in-law of Daemone DeJarnette. Dorris was a former member of Murphy AME Church in Chester, PA during her earlier years before becoming a member of Wesley AME Church in Swarthmore, PA. At Wesley, Dorris was a faithful member and served as a Sunday School teacher in addition to being a helper in the Young People’s Division. Always willing to lend a hand and help out at Wesley, Dorris routinely had her family’s youth participate in the church’s Christmas and Easter programs. Dorris was one of those individuals whom everyone loved to be around. Whether you were visiting her home for the very first time or had been there on many occasions, Dorris always made you feel welcome to her home. She had that way of making a stranger feel like he or she had been friends with her for many years. With Dorris, her love of family and friends, in addition to her compassion for others, led her and Butch to open their home for educational opportunities to many nephews including Kyle Payne, Darel Alliston, Terrence Adams, Van Buren Payne II. Butch and Dorris raised and cared for their nephew Robert Payne since the age of five. In addition, Dorris always made a point to bring her stepson, Arnold (Butchie) Kirksey, around and include him in family outings and functions. Dorris and Butch enjoyed entertaining and hosting family gatherings and celebrations from Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to Super Bowl parties. In fact, their grandchildren’s birthday parties often had more adults attending than actual kids. A gathering at their home meant lots of great food, non-stop laughter, and fellowship and memories to last a lifetime. Dorris had a profound effect on others. When she worked as a classroom aide in the Chester-Upland School District assigned to a pre-school class, one of the children in the class had some developmental issues and didn’t talk at home or at school. However, Dorris changed all of that. His parents could not believe his transformation. He took to Dorris and looked forward to seeing her each and every morning. He couldn’t wait to see her and would always run up and greet her with a hug. Prior to meeting Dorris, he displayed little to no communication skills. Because of Dorris, he learned to talk and display a sense of happiness. Another example of the selfless nature of Dorris was how she quickly accepted and became a mother-figure to Kay who had been a co-worker of Dana’s. Dana and Kay quickly became friends, and Dorris immediately embraced Kay with her welcoming nature. After Kay’s mother passed away, Dorris became a mother-figure to Kay, and Kay’s children, Chase and Kennedy, have always referred to Butch and Dorris as “Pop-Pop” and “MomMom”, respectively. Doris also viewed Kay’s husband Chase as her son-in-law. Dorris held a variety of jobs throughout her life and was always a dependable and conscientious employee. Whether it was working for the Greater Chester Movement or Sleighton Farms School for Girls, Dorris always made a point to connect with others and made a difference in their lives. She was someone with whom others would feel comfortable opening up to and communicating with. Dorris always greeted customers with an infectious smile when she worked at JC Penney’s Department Store and was a talented and creative seamstress and costume maker who worked at Irvin Stern’s Formal Wear and Costumes Company. In fact, while working at Stern’s, Dorris made costumes for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day and Philadelphia Mummer’s Parades in addition to making costumes for Olympic skaters Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner. Taking vacations and travelling to a variety of destinations was something that Dorris looked forward to and enjoyed immensely. Whether it was taking a family vacation to Disney World with Butch, Danielle, Dana, and Kyle or going down South for a family reunion, there was a level of excitement and appreciation with which Dorris anticipated these trips. On one such trip, Butch took Dorris to Las Vegas to see the Sugar Ray Leonard vs Marvin Hagler boxing match. Upon seeing so many celebrities at the match, Dorris enjoyed herself so much that she expected to start going to all of the championship fights. Besides her hearty laugh, along with her warm and compassionate personality, Dorris will always be known for her devotion to the Lord, her devotion to her family, and devotion to treating others with kindness. Dorris not only professed her love for her Lord and Savior but also acted in a manner consistent with her Christian beliefs and upbringing. Whether it was taking her dogs on daily walks throughout Swarthmore or interacting with neighbors, Dorris had an ability to make people smile even if they were having a bad day. In short, it was difficult to walk away from Dorris and not leave feeling good and with a smile on your face. When you meet someone like Dorris Adams, you are fortunate. When you are able to call that person Wife, Mommy, Mom-Mom, Aunt, Sister, Daughter, Niece, Cousin, Neighbor, or Friend, it is a BLESSING. Dorris was truly a BLESSING. On the day of her passing, Dorris received communion from her pastor, Catherine Brownlee. She had such a glow on her face and appeared to be at peace. Dorris was ready to go and be with the Lord. She knew it was her time. On September 1, 2024, Dorris Adams departed this life on Earth, began her eternal life in Heaven, and was greeted with that phrase “Well done thy good and faithful servant.” The memories of Dorris Adams and the legacy that she left behind will live on in our hearts forever. Dorris was preceded in death by her parents, James and Nettie Payne; siblings, Joseph Payne, Katie Payne Bean, Christella Payne, and Mattie Payne Owens; close friend Sandra Walker (who was like a sister); nephew Robert Payne (who was like a son). Dorris is survived by her husband Arnold Adams, daughters Danielle Adams and Dana DeJarnette (Daemone), grandchildren Morgan and Ian DeJarnette, siblings VanBuren Payne (Mary), Charles Payne (Vera), Nettie Alliston (Eugene), Russell Payne, Sylvia Dopirak (Joseph), Joyce Wells, Barbara Thompson, Henrietta Shelton (John Jr.), Patricia Lewis, Bruce Payne, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and friends

Dorris P. Adams

October 1, 1947 - September 1, 2024