Delores Garrus

Delores Garrus, daughter of the late Charles Marcellus Garrus, Sr. and Orlean Davenport Garrus was born April 19, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland. Affectionately known as Lois, Lossie, Doris and Ms. Garrus. Delores peacefully departed this earth and earned her wings on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at the age of 82. Losing her mother as a teenager, Delores became the Matriarch of her family, providing care and nurturing in the household as her “Charles”, their Dad, worked to support his family. Mommy was a strong woman. They could always count on her to cook and clean, and boy could she clean! Delores was educated in Baltimore City Public Schools and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School. There she met her first love, Clifton Eugene and from that union two beautiful children were born, Karen Michele and Denise Arlene. Later in her adult life, Delores met her second love, Andrew Ulysses and from that union a beautiful daughter, Elsha Victoria was born. Delores spent her adulthood working in the health care field. She began working in the dietary departments at the old Franklin Square Hospital and Lutheran Hospital. She later attended Coppin State College, but decided to join and through diligent study completed a Pharmacy Technician Program whereby she became a Pharmacy Technician at the University of Maryland Hospital. There she held positions in the Central, Operating Room (OR), and Storeroom Pharmacies (hand filling patient med carts, restocking for 7 OR rooms, and filling orders for the entire hospital), for 20 years before retiring. Although Delores suffered a stroke in the Fall of 2019, losing the ability to walk, her daughters ensured she received the care, support and love to allow her to thrive in her Nursing Home setting. While there, she loved playing Gin Rummy, doing puzzles, Word Searches and participating in group activities. And when, in early 2021, she was finally able to eat normal food, boy did she make up for lost time! While living in the nursing home, Delores lost two of her dearest, loving and supportive friends; Jean Washington and Carolyn Lumpkins. She cherished the friendships they had, spending many a joyous time with them! Delores adored and loved her Grandsons, attending their sporting events, school functions, and was always upfront and gleaming at their graduations. She loved shopping and was very generous with gift giving. Delores loved Christmas and you could always count on her showing up with beautiful Christmas bags full of gifts that were meticulously wrapped for her beloved family and friends. She adored all her nieces and nephews and loved spending time with her Sister-in-laws: JayJay and Linda; dear friends: Dott, San, Sharon, Steve, Grant and Vicki. Delores enjoyed casino trips and was surprised on her 82nd birthday, although wheelchair bound, with a day trip to one of her favorite spots to enjoy her favorite pastime. Delores enjoyed living at Catholic Charities - New Town in Owings Mills. She liked being independent and self-sufficient. She assisted her fellow neighbors when she could, whether driving them to or from church or helping them run errands. Family and friends looked at her as being dependable, as a person you could count on when needed. She was one of eight siblings and it was “All in God’s Time,” that the Matriarch of the Family would be preceded in death by them - Earl, Betty, Joan, Charles Jr. (Bunky), Ronald, Wayne and Eleanor. Well done, “Thy Good and Faithful Servant.” Praise Be To God, she is survived by her children, Karen Gross (Jeff), Denise Garrus, and Elsha Moore; four grandsons, Corwin Milam, Jason Gross, Justin Gross, and Nicholas Shanklin; 5 great-grandchildren, Princeton, Charity, Corwin Jr, Khalia, and Kameron; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and very special friends, all she dearly loved.

Tributes

Delores Garrus

April 19, 1940 - October 27, 2022