Dorothy M. Stallworth, 80, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother departed from this life and entered eternal rest on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, surrounded by her loving family after an extended illness.
Dorothy was born in Evergreen, Alabama on November 27, 1939, as the youngest of nine children to the late Willie S. and Ida (nee Robbins) Gross. She lived in a modest home filled with love. She, her sister Annie, and Cousin Eula were a close-knit trio that loved, cared for, and protected one another.
At an early age, her religious foundation began at Sparta Hill United Methodist Church where she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She sang in the children’s choir. She was educated through the Evergreen Public School System. As a well-rounded student, she excelled in academics and traveled to other counties to play basketball. Her trademark was her famous “hook shot”. She graduated from Conecuh County Training School in May 1957.
On October 5, 1964, she was united in holy matrimony to John Stallworth Jr., and to this union, five children were born. She then relocated with him to Akron, OH. She worked briefly at the Mayflower Hotel. Subsequently, she dedicated all her efforts to make a “home” for her family. There were very few days her family came home, and the entire house was not cleaned, and hot food on the table as she awaited them with a smile. She prayed daily for her children and alongside her husband, instilled in them morals, values, and life lessons that they have extended to their own families. She played an active role in the upbringing of her grandchildren and served as a second mother-figure to many of them.

Dorothy had an extreme love for gardening and nature. For many years, she and her husband maintained a garden with a variety of fruits and vegetables. She also took great pride in the landscaping of her home, decorating the property with flowers. She won several awards from Keep Akron Beautiful.
An avid lover of television, she relished The Young and the Restless, NBA Basketball, and The Price is Right. Although she loved TV, it never kept her idle. She enjoyed walking and loved to dance. Small in stature, she had a sturdy, strong physique that preserved her beyond what was expected. Dorothy was a devout Christian. She attended Messiah Missionary Baptist Church for years. Humble and meek, she had a disposition of easily making friends. Extremely forgiving and patient, she always gave people the benefit of the doubt. She was like a first-responder, always there when she was needed.
Her ultimate pride and joy were being a wife, mother, and grandmother. She had a special and unique relationship with each of us, but the common denominator was unconditional love. She was our nurse, confidant, therapist, aide, and comforter. Despite dementia, she always knew when her children were troubled and showed her support through kind words, pats on the back, and hugs. Although we are deeply saddened by her passing, we have solace in knowing that she is no longer suffering in this world.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Ida Pearl Mitchell, Martha King, and Annie Stephens; brothers, Albert, Robert, Willie Jr., James, and Ezekiel Gross; son-in-law, Willie James Wiggins Sr.; grandchildren, Jasmine and Amber Washington, Evelyn Barron, and Emmett Gross Jr.; great-grandchildren, Aniya Abner, and Alexis McGhee.

She leaves to cherish her memory her fervently dedicated husband of 56 years John Stallworth Jr.; attentive daughters, Loretha Wiggins of Atmore, AL, Janet (Johnny) Washington and Sheila (Keith) Fisher both of Akron, OH; loving sons, Emmett (Joann) Gross of Evergreen, AL and Gregory (Cari Sutton) Stallworth of Akron, OH; grandchildren, Laquetta, Annie (Phillip Sr.), Arthur, Willie Jr., Justin, Ja’Nelle, Michael, Jordan (Keisha), Sabryna, Sierra, Sheyan, Elijah and Isaiah; great-grandchildren, Ja’Sonica, Jurnee, Juliana, Phillip Jr., Bentley, Keelan, Kymani, Justin Jr., Jodeci, Gabrielle, Noelle, Aunalyn, Jabari and Symone; special cousin, Eula Cannon of Morrisville, NC; sisters-in-law, Mary Drake, Imo McIver, Sandra Stallworth, and Ernestine Thornton all of Akron, OH, Mary Ellen Gross of Detroit, MI; brothers-in-law, Alexander (Ernestine), Wilbert, Ernest (Marcia) Stallworth all of Akron, OH and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.