Deloris (Dee) was born in Madison County, TN, on August 19, 1943, to Maddie Mae Russell. Being the first grandchild of the Russell clan, she had the run of her grandparent’s, Grafton & Eva Russell, farm and lived with them until she entered college.

Dee attended the historic Lane College in Jackson, TN, and majored in Early Childhood Education. During her time at Lane, she became a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., Sorority. After graduation, she moved north to obtain her master’s degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. She married, began to teach in the Grand Rapids school district, and gave birth to her only child Joe E. Reid in 1972.

In Grand Rapids, she met the love of her life, Freeman Fletcher, M.D. They married on July 19, 1980, and relocated to Shaker Heights, OH, where she taught kindergarten. The family joined the Affinity Missionary Baptist Church, where she was an active member until her transition. She retired from teaching public school after more than 30 years of service. In addition to teaching, Dee loved to travel and shop, laugh and shop, and eat and shop.

Dee made her transition on the evening of March 1, 2023. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Freeman Fletcher (1997), and her son, Joe E. Reid (2019). However, she leaves a host of family, friends, and colleagues to cherish her memory.