The homegoing celebration for Billie Ann Hargraves Dorsey is on Sunday, July 2, 2017 at Metropolitan AME Zion Church, 102 West MLK Jr. Drive, Washington. Visitation will be on Sunday from 3-4pm with the service beginning at 4 pm. The interment will be at the Veterans National Cemetery in New Bern, North Carolina, on Monday, July 3, 2017.

Billie Ann Hargraves Dorsey, daughter of the late Charles and Addie Hargraves, was born November 27, 1930 in Harlem Hospital, New York. She left us quietly on June 29, 2017 while in the home under the care of her devoted family and Community Hospice.

Ms. Dorsey grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, attending the Orange County Training School. She is the grandchild of Luther Hargraves and Della Weaver Hargraves, a family of strong lineage and roots in Chapel Hill. Ms. Dorsey joined her family church, St. Paul AME Church of Chapel Hill, at a very young age. Ms. Dorsey became a member of the Metropolitan AME Zion Church and before her debilitation from illness served as a Deaconess, a member of the Women and Foreign Missionary and shared her great cooking for any church event when needed. Over the years, she has served in the church in multiple capacities to include Meals on Wheels, Cedar St. Home Extension, Class Leader, Stewardess Board and Hospitality Board.

“Ma Billie or Ma Dorsey or Billie Ann,” as she was affectionately called, was a devoted wife to the late Rev. Matthew P. Dorsey, former pastor of Metropolitan AME Zion of Washington and St. James Rocky Run of New Bern. Ms. Dorsey was ever proud of her children and grandchildren. Along with teaching us to rely on our faith in God through Jesus, she also did not hesitate to give a stern talking to or a good whooping as needed. This guidance also applied to all of the many other children, and adults, she fostered over the years. Ms. Dorsey lovingly touched the lives of numbers of people in so many ways.

Ma Dorsey leaves to cherish her memory her nine children: Rev. Matthew Dorsey Jr. of Newport News, Virginia; Gilbert C. Dorsey (Elizabeth) of Raleigh, North Carolina; Lawrence W. Dorsey (Daysi) of Las Vegas, Nevada (her sons); Volina Tyson of the home; Michelle Collins (Alfred) of Havelock, North Carolina; Rhonda Robinson of Durham, North Carolina; Annie Moore (Alton) of Chester, Virginia; Collette Ashiru of Chesterfield, Virginia; and Leola Dorsey of the home. She also has two grandsons that she raised: Richard Tyson Jr. (Nichelle) of Port Royal, South Carolina; and Tyrrell Tyson of Selma, North Carolina; her sister Ethel Jean Jackson (Curtis) of Chapel Hill (her brother Charles Hargraves Jr. of Texas preceded her in death). Grandma Billie and also “Granny” leaves to also cling to her wonderful memory a host of family members to include 21 grandchildren (6 additional grandchildren preceded her in death), 23 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Hazel Smith and Rose Holston of Gaithersburg, Maryland, who were like her own sisters.

Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait I say on the Lord. Psalm 27:14.

I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. II Timothy 4:7.

Arrangements are by Leon Randolph Funeral Home, 208 West Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Washington.