Deloris Sturdivant
Mrs. Deloris Johnson Sturdivant was born on December 25, 1963, in Gadsden, Alabama. She accepted Christ at an early age when she gave God her heart at Handy Chapel A.M.E. Church in Gadsden.
In 1982, she graduated from Gadsden High School and attended Jacksonville State University. She was also employed at Emco in Gadsden. She met the love of her life and devoted husband, Anthony Dewayne Sturdivant Sr., in 1985 at a wedding and they married in 1987. They relocated to Union City, Tennessee, where they built a life together and raised three children.
Their oldest son, Tyson Reynaldo Sturdivant, passed away in 2014. In addition, they have a daughter, Tieranee Rayjean Sturdivant of Silver Spring, Maryland, and their youngest son, Anthony Dewayne Sturdivant Jr., who resides in Gadsden.
Deloris was a phenomenal woman and a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker. Her greatest pride and joy were her husband and children. She was also a proud and active member of New Hope Freewill Baptist Church in Union City, Tennessee, where she faithfully served as a mother of the church, Sunday school teacher, youth leader, church administrator, and missionary. Her hobbies included reading, crocheting, shopping, cooking, traveling, and hosting dinner parties for her family and friends.
In 2015, she relocated back to Gadsden with her family and became an active member of Handy Chapel A.M.E. Church, where she and her husband co-founded the “We Care Ministry,” which supports the community by providing financial assistance, food, and essential resources to those in need. In addition, she served on the pastor’s aid board, the young people’s department, the hospitality committee, the Jessie M. Groce Women’s Missionary Society, and as a Sunday school teacher.
She was 60 years old when she departed this earthly life on Thursday, November 14, 2024, surrounded by her family. Deloris is now resting in the arms of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, and she is reunited with her son, Tyson.
Preceding her in death were her paternal grandparents, Robert and Sarah Johnson, and her maternal grandparents, Columbus and Florence Turner; her father, Johnnie Lee Johnson Sr., and her mother, Essie Ray Johnson; her sisters, Diane Johnson, Bernice Madden, and Janice Williams; her brothers, Collis Madden Jr. and Jimmy Turner; and her brothers-in-law, Richard Robinson and Louis Thomas.
Deloris leaves to cherish her memory a loving brother and sisters: Johnnie Lee Johnson Jr., Betty Robinson, who she also considered a second mother, Theresa (Lester) Crowder, and Noressa Thomas, all of Gadsden, in addition to her loving sisters: Jannette Madden Harvey of Cartersville, Georgia, and Paulette (Lewis) Ellison of Spring Valley, New York. Deloris was blessed with loving in-laws, including a father-in-law and mother-in-law, Chatmon and Margie Sturdivant of Gadsden; a sister-in-law, Kim (Luis) Harris of Stone Mountain, Georgia; and a brother-in-law, Michael (Vera) Sturdivant of Danville, Virginia. She also leaves behind special nieces and nephews, along with other relatives and many dear friends.
To honor her memory, please consider making a monetary donation and/or volunteering your time with the American Heart Association (heart.org, 1-800-242-8721) and the American Kidney Fund (kidneyfund.org, 1-800-638-8299). Please also consider becoming an organ donor (donatelife.net, 1-800-355-7427). Mrs. Sturdivant’s celebration of life will be held at Handy Chapel A.M.E. Church on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 1 p.m.. Arrangements are under the direction of West Gadsden Funeral Home. For more information, please contact the funeral home at 256-549-0004.
The Messenger/11.18.24