Delores R Gardner

Delores Faye Ridge Gardner was born on May 30, 1940, to the parentage of Burl D. Ridge and Eliza Mae Wilburn Ridge in Clarksville, Texas. Granny, or “Dee” (as she was commonly called), spent her early years in Dallas, Texas where she attended Julius C. Frazier Elementary and graduated from The Great James Madison High School in Dallas, Texas in 1958. She attended college at the University of North Texas where she majored in Psychology.

Delores accepted Christ at an early age and dedicated her life to her children, family, and her love of learning. Her wisdom, ideology, and her compassion is her legacy that will be forever forged in our memories.

Delores was very intelligent and ambitious in her careers. During her years raising her daughters, she worked as a corporate buyer for Levitz Furniture Company. She was offered a top management position which she turned down to raise her girls because it required travel. Her dedication to parenthood was the greatest job to her. She went on to work for the Postal Service and after that, spent 25 years in apartment management with Shelter Creek Apartments. When the apartment complex closed, she worked for her adopted son, Ciba Awa, at First Home Health, where she managed the books and was the Office Manager. He often accredited her with being the backbone of his company and her efficiency with numbers as being vital to his success. She later retired and worked for DISD as a school crossing guard for 10 years.

Delores was an avid reader and writer. She cocreated Knees Paperback Publishing Company, Monique’s Exclusive Specialties, and created a make ready company for apartment cleaning. She published several books on religion and philosophy. Her passion for life also led her into photography where she found beauty in life and developed a love for nature.

Delores entered the Kingdom of Heaven on August 14, 2021.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Felecia Y. Ridge in 1986, her mother Eliza Mae Clewis in 1989, her great grandson A’Darii Y. Ridge-Beck 2002, her sister Gwendolyn Y. Hicks in 2016, her great, great grandson Aydrii Amare’-Kash Hicks in 2018, and her father Burl D. Ridge in 2019.

She is survived by her daughter, Donna Sherman (Carlos), adopted son Ciba Awa (Nnena), her granddaughter/daughter Camillia Ridge, grandchildren De’Asure Derricks (Marcus), Dalton Sherman, Demosthenes Sherman, Ciba Awa II, Nnena Awa, Oma Awa, Kem Awa, and great grand-daughter A’Ssyriann Ridge-Glaspie, her BFF Dorothy Watkins, her BFF George Brackeen, and a host of nieces, cousins, and friends.