Deloris C. Dial

Deloris Anne Caldwell Dial continued her journey with the Lord on Thursday, September 9, 2021, in Spartanburg, SC. Born on January 19, 1947, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Charlotte, NC, Deloris was the daughter of the late Trevolia Elizabeth Caldwell Patterson. The Caldwell family, including Deloris, her Mother, Grandmother, 7 uncles and 1 aunt, spent most of their early lives in Shuffletown, USA—a storied and historical rural community northwest of Charlotte. They later moved to a West Charlotte community on Beatties Ford Road.

She was preceded in death by her Mother Trevolia, her Grandmother Daisy Wilson Caldwell, Stepfather Harvey Leon Patterson, and Brother Arthur Raymond Patterson.

Deloris, affectionately known as “Lois”, was a graduate of West Charlotte HS, ’64, and an accomplished pianist and music teacher for more than 49 years. Her inaugural musical instructions were at a very young age as the result of a barter-exchange arrangement between her grandmother Daisy and Mrs. Evelyn Freeman, an established private piano instructor of the time. She was subsequently awarded a music scholarship to study piano at Johnson C. Smith University, and while studying under the tutelage of Renee Glaubitz at JCSU, she began her private music studio in her grandmother’s dining room to defray college expenses. Upon her graduation from JCSU, she and Joshua were married in 1969 and began their life together. Lois soon began graduate studies at UNC-Greensboro, and later received her MM degree from Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC. Over the years she worked for Brodt Music Publishers, the US Postal Service, taught briefly in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, did additional studies at Western Carolina University and CPCC, served as Choral Director for several local congregations, conducted summer enrichment programs for her students all while continuing her Piano Studio, and raising two beautiful kids.

In the mid-eighties Lois found her long sought spiritual home, and united with the Eastway Drive Church of God, and that love has never wavered. Throughout the years she has grown, instructed, mentored, cherished, and touched lives too numerous to count, but as anyone who knows her will gladly exclaim, her greatest joy was her journey and very personal relationship with Jesus, the Christ. She was not ashamed of the Gospel, and shared it with any and everyone who crossed her path, the high and the less than, it mattered not. During the Holidays she organized her piano students to visit local nursing facilities to entertain the residents which brought immense joy.

Left to cherish fond memories of her life, love, and devotion are her husband of 52 years, Joshua, of the home, son, Joshua Jr, of W. Columbia, SC, daughter, JaNelle Cortney Dial of Boiling Springs, SC, grandchildren, Josephine Elizabeth Dial, Josiah James Dial and Joeanna Micah Tann-Funnye of Millersville, MD, brother, Calvin Foster Patterson (Anita) of Winston-Salem, NC, Uncle Luther Caldwell of Charlotte, NC; two special aunts Margie Caldwell of Virginia Beach, VA and Sarah Wright of Charlotte, NC; special cousin Patrina Derr of Virginia Beach, VA; nephew Dwayne Arthur Patterson of Chicago, IL;  special friend Elaine King of Charlotte, NC and a grand host of relatives, very dear friends and acquaintances.

Farewell Lois, Ma, Mommie, Grandma, We love you so much, We love you so Very Much.