Dorothy Mae Armstrong

Dorothy Mae Fletcher was born on December 14, 1929, at 614 Maple St., Lockland, Ohio, to the parents of the late William Sr. and Della Rose Fletcher. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Armstrong, Sr.

Dorothy was affectionately called “Margo” by most of her close friends. She was educated in the Cincinnati Public School system of Hamilton County, attending Lockland-Wayne Elementary and High School during a time when schools were not integrated. Dorothy graduated in 1947 and went on to attend Tuskegeee Institute majoring in Education. She was employed, for a brief period, teaching in the field of Education and went on to other professional fields, until she became the church secretary for Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where she remained until retiring in 2001. After serving for 25 plus years under the leaderships of Rev. Otis Moss Jr., Rev. Donald Thompson, and Rev. Henry Jones, just to name a few.

Dorothy was a lifelong member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and served in many ministry capacities and positions. In addition to the position of church secretary, she sang for many years in five different choirs and community choirs. Dorothy also served in participating in Bible Study classes, co-chaired for the Men’s and Women’s Day program in 1967 during the time when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the guest speaker.

Dorothy was a woman who loved the Lord and loved to praise and worship Him. She always had an encouraging word for everyone, whether in the grocery store or chatting by phone. Her grandchildren often had fun guessing who would get to have the longest phone conversation with her. She enjoyed singing old hymns and listening to a good bible lesson.

She would often quote scriptures that she shared with her family. One in particular that she quoted often was Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

Dorothy was enthusiastically involved in the early days of the Civil Rights movement in Cincinnati and was a member of the NAACP as well as being involved in “Operation Push for the Lincoln Heights Chapter” with Rev. Moss, Dr. Fred                    Shuttlesworth, Dr. Ralph Abernathy, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Rev. Damon Lynch, to name a few. She walked in the movement marches to demonstrate for the Civil Rights for voting privileges of black citizens in the tristate area and proudly attended  The March on Washington when Dr. King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. Her dedication to the Civil Rights Movement was one of her most cherished life experiences that she shared with her children, grandchildren, and community neighbors.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her three siblings: John H. Fletcher, William (Snooky) Fletcher Jr., and Flora L. Fletcher Alexander.

Mrs. Dorothy “Margo” quietly and peacefully transitioned from this life and into the eternal arms of her Lord and Savior in the early morning hours on Friday, March 21, 2025. She left to cherish her memories: her children, daughter, Tracee Collene Newell (Donald); sons, Mark Wesley Anderson and Neil Bradford Anderson; stepchildren, Marsha, Charlotte, and John Armstrong Jr.; grandchildren, Kendrick Scott Anderson Sr. (Temeka), Cydnee Collene Brown-McMillan (Tammy), Gynger Lorayne Brown, Casey Neil Brown (Natasha), LaKihsa Renee Anderson (John), and Zahra Jade Zimmerman-Anderson and “Acquired” granddaughter, Charmin Hardy; 24 great grands, 7 great-great grands, special niece and dear friend, Johnneta B. Fletcher-Lackey; a large number of nieces and nephews; dear lifelong sister friend, Jackie Fitzgerald, numerous spiritual sister friends, neighborhood community friends, and many younger cousins and family from around the country.

Dorothy will be sincerely missed but has left a wonderful and unforgettable imprint in the world.

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