Dorothe Stepp

Dorothe, also called “Dot”, “Aunt Dot”, “Dorothe P”, “Grandma”, “Grand mommy”, and “Grandma Dorothe”, was born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 8, 1930 to John Adam and Beatrice Evelyn Griffin. She went to school at Parker High School and attended Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama.

Dorothe moved to Indianapolis, In, from St. Louis, Missouri in 1957 where she had been temporarily living with her sister Edith Page. While in St. Louis she worked and attended school to become a Certified Clinical Laboratory Technician. She found employment in Indianapolis and worked for Medical Laboratories of Indianapolis, Eskenazi Hospital, and St. Francis Hospital for over 30 years.

Dorothe married the love of her life Mr. Bennie Stepp on September 7, 1974. She was always an extremely hard worker who was able to work 16 hours days in order to help both family and friends. She was a devoted and loving daughter, wife, step-mother, step-grandmother, step-great grandmother, sister, and aunt. In 1983 Dorothe moved her widowed mother Beatrice from Birmingham to Indianapolis to care for her until her death on February 15, 1998.

Dorothe was a very social person and loved fellowshipping with family and friends whether in person or over the phone. She had a smile that was contagious and loved helping others whenever she could by transporting folk to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, to the polls to vote, etc.

Dorothe enjoyed staying active and developed a strong resolve to finish any project that she started. She was an active member of the Indiana African American Genealogy Group. Her life’s work of completing a genealogical history for all her family over the last 20 years attest to her diligence to uplift others instead of herself. She planned the first Griffin Family Reunion in 2007 held here in Indianapolis, In. The last ones held were planned by her grandnieces in 2012 in Los Angeles, California, and in 2019 then San Diego, California. Her loving persistence and resolve to continue having family reunions were indicative of how important she felt about helping kids form identities about who they are because of their family members. She believed that family reunions were irreplaceable occasions for celebrating the past and present and creating new memories.

Dorothe professed her faith in Christ at an early age and was baptized by Rev. Goodgain of the 6th Avenue Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. She held steadfast to her belief until her death. She was a faithful member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church for over 50 years, serving as Church Clerk, Deaconess, bible study, prayer circle and adult Sunday school member. She loved to travel and go different places traveling on at least 10 cruises with family and friends. Dorothe was also an avid gardener, planting a vegetable garden in the back yard, and planting her “beloved roses” in the front each year. She was jig-saw puzzle enthusiast and religiously completed the daily crossword puzzles in the Indianapolis Star. She loved politics and worked the polls at the Douglas Park Community Center each year. She was involved in the Oakhill-Brightwood Civic Association in which her community organized to combat neighborhood crime, interact with local government leaders, law enforcement, and the private sector, in order to sustain the economic and social integrity of the community that she so loved and was proud to live in. She leaves a legacy of accomplishments and acknowledgements for her family and friends to be proud of.

Dorothe is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bennie, two sisters, Edith Page

and Lottie Thurman; four brothers, John, William, Howard, and James; one niece Peggy; four nephews, William, George, Howard Jr., and Alfred Thurman; one step-grandson, Aaron P. Stepp.

Dorothe is survived by one step-daughter, Paula J. Stepp-Williams of Southfield, Michigan; one step-son Bennie A. Stepp (Cynthia E.) of Indianapolis, In; one sister, Harriette Lipscomb of Sacramento, California; one sister in-law Nola Allen Griffin of Tampa, Florida; two step-granddaughters, Demetria M. Williams of Southfield, Michigan and Dyneshia R. Stepp of Indianapolis, In; four step-great granddaughters, Shyiane Stepp of Indianapolis, In, Taylor G. Williams of Kennasaw, Georgia, Keyalla Davis of Indianapolis, In, and Dasia Leavelle of Indianapolis, In; one step-great grandson Kayden Garnett of Indianapolis, In; two step-great great grandsons Marcus and Michael Armstrong of Indianapolis, In; one step-great great granddaughter, J'Ana Yancy of Indianapolis, In., three nieces, seven nephews, and a host of grand and great grand nieces and nephews.

Visitation/Viewing will be from 11:00 am-1:00 pm Saturday, February 27, 2021 and Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on the same day at Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery at Gothic Chapel 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, In with Pastor Donald C. Griffin Sr. of Second Missionary Baptist Church, Bedford, In, officiating. Burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are by Crown Hill Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society and/or the Indiana African American Genealogy Group instead of sending flowers.

The family of Dorothe P. Stepp wish to extend our sincere thanks to the Doctors and nurses of Methodist Hospital, Elara Palliative Care, and Brighton Hospice. A special thanks to her close friends, neighbors, and her church family for looking out for her well-being and keeping her lifted in prayer (you know who you are:).

For Live-Stream, please visit Donald Griffin's Facebook Page at time of service.