Dorothy Lou Johnson Steele was called home by the Lord on Thursday, July 24, 2025. She was born in Moorehead, Mississippi on Wednesday, October 1, 1934, at 11:15 p.m., to the late Ezra Johnson, Sr., and Lottie Isabella Johnson (Wright), she was the last of seven children.

Dorothy started her elementary education in Moorehead, Mississippi and completed it in Detroit, Michigan. The family moved to Detroit in 1942. She was a proud graduate of Sidney C. Miller High School on June 17, 1953. For many years you could find Dorothy back in Detroit, celebrating the alumni reunions of Miller High. She attended these for over 50 years.

In August 1948, at the age of 14, Dorothy met the love of her life, Lacy Steele. He was the neighborhood paper boy. Shortly after meeting him, they discovered they were members of the same church, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal. They were married on Sunday, June 22, 1952, at 2:30 p.m., right after the church service.

Dorothy and Lacy moved to Seattle, Washington in 1959, when the Boeing Company recruited Lacy after his stint in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Soon after moving to Seattle they joined First African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 7, 1959, under the Reverend C.D. Toliver.

Dorothy was highly active in her church; she was appointed to the Stewardess Board II by Reverend Cecil Murray in 1972, where she faithfully served as President for 20 years. She also served as the church’s Wedding Coordinator for over 20 years. During the Thanksgiving holiday Dorothy and Lacy provided numerous turkeys for families in need for several years. Dorothy believed higher education was one of the keys to success. She faithfully served on the Scholarship Committee. One of the trademarks of Dorothy was issuing high school and college graduates personally engraved copies of the Bible. And to check to see if you read it she would insert dollar bills of various denominations throughout the Bible highlighting some of her favorite scriptures.

As one of the founding members of The Benefit Guild, Inc., Dorothy did not limit her work in the community to the church. This organization was founded in 1963 by a group of Black women in Seattle aspiring to “benefit” young Black children in the community by providing scholarships, cultural enhancements, and community engagement during a time of segregation and limited opportunities. They appealed to many in their sphere of influence that included notable speakers such as actor/musical performer and civil rights activist, Harry Belafonte and civil rights leader and confidante of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Rev.

Dr. Wyatt T. Walker. She also served as a caretaker for many people, providing assistance over the years. If it was a visit, a bath, a meal, or financial aid she was ready and available to help in someone’s time of need.

Dorothy was a Golden Heritage Life Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and served as Lacy’s unofficial NAACP secretary for over 26 years while he was President.

Dorothy also worked for the Boeing Company serving 35 years. She worked in the Wire Shop and was the lead person in an area known as “Blue Streak.” This division was responsible for the listening pleasure of passengers, working on stereo bundles. In this position she worked on the full line of Boeing commercial aircrafts and even two United States President’s planes (i.e., Air Force One).

In 2024, Dorothy and her husband celebrated 72 years of marriage in South Jersey where they moved to be closer to her daughter and family. She resided at Harmony Village-CareOne in Cherry Hill, NJ until her passing under the care of Samaritan’s hospice service.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her beloved husband Lacy Steele, parents Ezra Johnson Sr., and Lottie Isabella Johnson (Wright), siblings Ezra (Velma) Johnson Jr., Jesse James Johnson, Ellenstein Johnson Hans, and Lottie Mary (Fred) Stewart. She leaves to cherish her memory a daughter Marché Deon Steele Heath and her husband Phillip Walker Heath, grandson Joshua David Heath, granddaughter-in-law Krystalee Suyapa Heath, great-grandson Kayson Joshua Heath, godson Jordan Alexander Riely-Payne, nephews Gregory Paul Hans, Michael (Portia) Steele, nieces, Priscilla (Walter) Knight, Violetta Spady, Andrene (Donnie) Monk, Marnita (Timothy) Dickerson, Alicia (Alan) Lurry, Wanda Shamblin, cousin Jannel Clarke, and a host of family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to organizations that were close to Dorothy Steele’s heart:

FAME Church Scholarship Fund

1522 14th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122

www.FAMEseattle.org

“In memory of Dorothy Steele”

and/or

Samaritan

The Samaritan Gift Processing Center

P.O. Box 71425, Philadelphia, PA 19176-1425

www.SamaritanNJ.org

“In memory of Dorothy Steele”