Description
Adeline Dolly Christian
April 8,1929 – July 8, 2024
Adeline Dolly Christian was born on April 8th, 1929, as Adeline Viola Lewis in Newark, New Jersey. At an early age, her family relocated to the Bronx, New York. After that time, Dolly moved to Ebbets Field in Brooklyn and then to Queens, New York, and later in life to Pennsylvania and then to Maryland. She was the youngest of four children to her late parents, Daniel Lewis and Adeline Walton Lewis. She is preceded in death by her three brothers, Daniel Lewis, Edward Lewis, and Lester Lewis, and her husband, Al Christian. She was heavily involved in many organizations, councils, and coalitions, including the New York Urban League, Coalition of One Hundred Black Women, National Urban Affairs Council, Council of Concerned Black Executives, Roy Wilkins Park Association, and the New York City Commission on Human Rights under two Mayors.
Early in her career, she worked at Sperry & Hutchinson as an Employment Supervisor. She was recognized in news articles for her inaugural role in that position. Later in life, she did impressive work for IBM as the Program Manager in the Corporate Social Policy and Programs Unit. She retired from IBM in the late 80s. In retirement, she continued to enjoy her trips to Broadway plays and restaurants and stayed connected with family and friends.
The nickname name “Dolly” came about, and she always told this story of how her three brothers always said she looked like a “Doll/Dolly,” and they proceeded to call her that, and the name stuck and continued to become an official part of her name. We now know her by “Dolly” or “Aunt Dolly,” as she legally took the name.
This one friend described her the best: “Dolly was a great friend of my husband (Jan Van Meter), and I became friends with her after his passing. We had lots of fun talking by phone. She was great to speak with, funny, intelligent, and caring about things that matter. My husband adored her, and I did too. “ – Elena Sansalone.
Those who know her know of her strong personality, which was definitely not for the meek, but it is adored by many and will be remembered lovingly.
Left to cherish her memory are a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews and other family members, many good friends and neighbors.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to ChildFirst Services, Inc. to support Dolly Christian House, a residential program for foster youth in Pennsylvania that was named in her honor 20 years ago.