Delores Waddell

Delores R. Waddell was born February 13, 1950 in Joliet, Illinois to Ira and Rosabell Barber.  On November 18, 2019, as she peacefully slept, Our God wrapped His loving arms around her and whispered, come, it’s time to rest.

Affectionately known as Dee, Granny Dee or Aunt Dee, she loved all who crossed her path; a smile that would light up a room.  She attended and graduated from Joliet Public Schools.  As a young adult, Dee was a member of the Iconic Jets Softball Team, led by her father, brother and sister, which this team was known to be the best Women’s Softball team of their time.  Delores also enjoyed her career as a Domestic Engineer, assisting in the care of her parents and babysitting multiple children throughout the years.  Extremely talented Seamstress, making suits for her brothers, dresses for her friends, prom dresses for her daughters, and dolls with clothes for anybody who wanted one.  Dee made sure the children she influenced enjoyed life.  Other activities she loved was amusement parks and she was pretty smooth on a pair of roller skates.

Delores confessed her life to Christ at an early age, as a child she attended Second Baptist Church, rededicated her life to Christ and baptized at Christ Temple and her latest membership was under the leadership of Pastor Lonnie E. Posley, Sr., while she loved the Word of God, she also enjoyed praise and worship.  Her favorite son was “Oh Happy Day.”

While Delores was the youngest of eight children she adored her siblings and they spoiled her rotten.  Three brothers of protection and a sisterly bond that was an example she instilled in the upbringing of her girls. 

Delores met the love of her life, Monroe Waddell and was married for 49 years and to this union, four girls were born; Crystal, Lakita, Earline and Tamala Waddell.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Monroe Waddell; parents, Ira and Rosabell Barber; daughter, Tamala Clayton; brothers, Donald Barber and Wilbert Barber; sister, Geraldine Barber; in-laws, Frank (Elizabeth) Waddell; brothers-in-law, William Thomas, Jr. and Walter Whitehead; sister, Geraldine Barber; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

She is survived by her three daughters, Crystal (Antwan) White, Lakita Waddell and Earline (Audi) Wilson, all of Joliet, IL; step-son, Victor (Chalandris) Jackson of Green Bay, WI whom she adored; son-in-law, Loren Clayton, Sr.; brother, Eugene (Glory) Barber, three sisters, Shirley Barber, Earline Barber and JoAnn Whitehead; two extremely dedicated sisters-in-law, Bessie (Roy) Dotson and Patricia Waddell-Edwards (John); one brother-in-law, Randy (Barb) Waddell and loving sister-in-law, Susie Barber.

Grandchildren all were her pride and joy; David, her oldest grandson, Tonyale, her oldest granddaughter.  In between them, Dajon, Danyale, Tachet, Tashia, Tonniece, Audi Jr., Tyleana, Audia, Elijah, Deondray, Loren Jr., Anastasia, Davion, Davyona, RaShawn, Jeremiah, Andrew, Jaree, Janiyah, Lakija and Jarian, Shera, Raphael and London; bonus babies, Anesia, Kiarra and Paul and 15 great grandkids.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Delores Waddell, please visit our floral store.