Deloris Katherine Mark Stokes was born to the union of Luther Walter Mark and Earnestine (Jackson) Mark on April 14, 1942 in Bogalusa, LA. She was the second of seven children. She attended Bethlehem Baptist Church, where she was baptized at the age of 11 by Reverenend Varnado. She sang in the junior choir and participated in many Easter and Christmas religious programs.

Deloris attended schools in the Bogalusa school system, graduating from Central Memorial High School in the class of 1960. While at Central, she participated in many extra-curriculum act, including the drama club, science club, the Spartans marching drill team, was President of New Homemakers of America, secretary of her graduating class, and Miss Freshman in Miss Central's Homecoming court. After graduating high school, Deloris attended college at Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA to pursue what she had always wanted, to bean English teacher. She graduated with a major in English and a minor in Social Studies.

In 1965 Deloris arrived in Los Angeles, CA, marrying Larry Joe Dillon. They had one beloved son, Larry Gerard Dillon. She soon began teaching in the Los Angles Unified School System as a long-terms substitute teacher in many middle and high schools. In 1978, she moved to Lynwood, CA, married again to Roland Stokesand became an English teacher in the Lynwood School District, working at Fred W. Hosler and Lynwood Middle Schools. During her 33-year tenure, she was English Department Chairperson many times, sponsor of the National Junior Honors Society Academic Pentathlon and mock trial teams. She was named Mentor Teacher, worked on many school and district committees, and in 2000,she was named Los Angeles County Teacher of the year for the Lynwood Unified School District. Deloris received many, too many to try to list, awards and proclamations from the LUSD and the City of Lynwood. While working in the Lynwood School District, Deloris attend Pepperdine College and received her Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis in Sociology and Psychology. In 2014, she joined Greater New Light Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of her godson, Dr. Patrick D. Ross.

Her memories will be cherished by: sisters, Erma Gordon (Somerset, NJ) and Margaret Brown (New Brunswick, NJ);brothers, Holman Mark (New Brunswick, NJ), Roosevelt Mark (New Brunswick, NJ) and Phillip Mark (Bogalusa, LA); stepdaughters, Marilyn Dillon (Somerset, NJ), Latoya Dillon (Las Vegas, NV); stepsons, Kevin Dillon (Amite, LA) and Troy Dillon (Amite, LA); goddaughters Sandra Moss (Compton, CA), Stephanie Leveston (Moreno Valley, CA), Deidra Howard (Atlanta, GA), Daryl and Easley (Los Angels, CA), and Tabitha Permkins (Lynwood, CA); godsons, Dr. Patrick D. Ross (Compton, CA), Todd Hairston (Houston. TX), Erick Lee (Los Angeles, CA), Sam Anderson ll (Compton, CA), Johnathan Ensley (Los Angels, CA), Brandon Smith (Compton, Ca), Isaiah Moss (Compton, CA), Rodrick Borders (Lynwood, CA), and Samar Anderson (Compton, CA); special God sister, Joella Shepard (Inglewood, CA), Laura Buckley (Bogalusa, LA), and Donna Borders (Lynwood, CA); aunts, Amie Jackson (Bogalusa, LA), Melvin Jackson (Bogalusa, LA), and Ruth Joyner (Somerset, NJ),; special friends, Mark, Fannie, Mary C., Pearl, Affie, Vera, Wilfred, Lovett, Felix, Ruby, Bobette, Diana, Brenda, Harold C., Dorothy, Delilah, Jesse B., Jesse Jr., and Paula; and a host of other family and friends.

Deloris has now joined her parents, Luther and Earnestine Mark; the joy of her life, her beloved son, Larry Gerard Dillon; her sister, Gwendolyn Mark; her husband, Roland Stokes; special cousin, Elbert Buckle, her god daughter, Lisa Weary.

Thanks for everything, Patrick, Sandra, Daryl, Stephanie, Melody, Donna, Joelle and Rodrick.

Funeral Service

Wednesday, June 28' 2017 at Cook-Richmond Funeral Home, Dr. Patrick D. Ross officiating.