AKA Soror Delores Hutt-Longley, dies at 86

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Delores Hutt Longley, affectionately known to her family and friends as Dee, passed away peacefully and was surrounded by her family on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Clayton, after a brief illness.

Delores was one of three children born to the union of Horace Hutt, Sr., and Beulah Rivere Hutt and lived in St. Louis her entire life. She attended public schools and Stowe Teachers College, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master of education degree.

Her keen desire to educate young children prompted her to attend the Saint Louis University, where she graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in urban education. She then served in the St. Louis Public Schools System for the next 38 years as a teacher, principal at Carr, Dumas and Banneker Elementary Schools, and administrator.

Delores was dedicated to civil rights and racial equality from a young age and as administrator served as the Director of Desegregation Office for the St. Louis Public Schools System, where she managed the program for creating the city’s desegregation plan in response to the court’s order.

Passionate about justice, she developed formats and methods for implementation and monitoring the program and assisted individual schools to develop curriculum to meet their specific needs.

Following her retirement, she continued her great love of education and human and civil rights by serving as consultant for Maryville University.

Delores married her high school sweetheart James Longley, on March 31, 1945. She was a loyal and loving wife through the years. To this union two children were born-Ronald Eric Longley and Karen Denise Longley-Gordy. She was a faithful, loving wife and mother.

Delores was deeply committed to community and church. Beginning with her university career, she was a member of the education fraternities Phi Delta Kappa and Pi Lambda Theta. She was also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was raised in the Methodist Church but at the time of her marriage joined Centennial Christian Church where she served on the Usher Board as long as she was physically able.

Delores loved the game of bridge and played it, as she lived, with great passion and verve. She belonged to two bridge clubs, The Tallies and the Grand Dekkers and played regularly with her large circle of friends and associates. She also belonged to the social club the Gallimauphries.

Travel was also her great desire and with her lifelong companion, husband James, she saw the world, frequently on cruises throughout the Caribbean and travels to Europe.

Family was her greatest love and deepest commitment. With her companion of 65 years, James, the great love of her life, and their two children, they brought into their family two wonderful and loving in-laws, Ronald (Carla) Longley, Karen Longley Gordy (Kerry) and three grandchildren, Rahny Longley (15), Ronson Longley (13) and Juliet James Gordy (10).

Blessed with a sister, Jean Hutt Houston (John), who lives in Las Vegas, Delores enjoyed a large brood of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A sister and two brothers of a previous marriage of her mother preceded her in passing, and a sister and brother of a previous marriage of her father preceded her in passing.

Delores was graced with an abundance of love and attention from her family and friends. She will be remembered for her charismatic personality and her angelic disposition. She will be deeply missed and forever treasured in our hearts by everyone who was blessed to know her.

Centennial Christian Church, 4950 Fountain Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. 63113 will be the location for a memorial service on August 27, at 11 am.

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