Deloris Katherine (Mark) Stokes was born to the union of Luther Walter Mark and Earnestine (Jackson) Mark on April 14, 1942, in Bogalusa. She passed away June 18, 2017.

Deloris was the second of seven children. She attended Bethlehem Baptist Church, where she was baptized at the age of 11 by Reverend 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 High, she participated in many extra-curricular activities 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, Louisiana to pursue what she had always wanted, to be an English Teacher. She graduated with a major in English and a minor in Social Studies.

In 1965, Deloris arrived in Los Angeles, Calif., marrying Larry Joe Dillon. They had one beloved son, Larry Gerard Dillon. She soon began teaching in the Los Angeles Unified School system as a long-term substitute teacher in many middle and high schools. In 1978 she moved to Lynwood, Calif., married again to Roland Stokes and became an English teacher in the Lynwood School District, working at Fred W. Hosler and Lynwood Middle Schools. During that 33-year tenure she was English Department Chairperson many times, sponsor of the National Junior Honor 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 attended 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 of Somerset, N.J., Margaret Brown of New Brunswick, N.J.; brothers, Holman Mark of New Brunswick, Roosevelt Mark of New Brunswick, Phillip Mark of Bogalusa; step-daughters, Marilyn Dillon of Somerset, N.J., Latoya Dillon of Las Vegas, Nev.; step-sons, Kevin Dillon of Amite, Troy Dillon of Amite; god-daughters, Sandra Moss of Compton, Calif., Stephanie Leveston of Moreno Valley, Calif., Deidra Howard of Atlanta, Ga., Daryl and Troi Ensley of Los Angeles, Tabitha Perkins of Lynwood; godsons, Dr. Patrick D. Ross of Compton, Todd Hairston of Houston, Texas, Errick Lee of Los Angeles, Calif., Sam Anderson II of Compton, Calif., Johnathan Ensley of Los Angeles, Brandon Smith of Compton, Isaiah Moss of Compton, Rodrick Borders of Lynwood, Samar Anderson of Compton; special god-sisters, Joella Shepard of Inglewood, Laura Buckley of Bogalusa, Donna Borders of Lynwood; aunts, Amie Jackson of Bogalusa, Melvin Jackson of Bogalusa, Ruth Joyner of Somerset; special friends, Mark, Fannie, Mary C, Pearl, Affie, Vera, Wilfred, Lovett, Felix, Ruby, Bobette, Diana, Brenda, Harold C, Dorothy, Delilah, Jesse B., Jesse Jr., Paula and a host of family and friends.

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

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

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 28, from 11 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 1 p.m. officiated by Rev. Dr. Patrick D. Ross. Interment will be in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, Calif.

Services are entrusted to Cook-Richmond Funeral Home of Bogalusa.

Visit and sign the guest registry online at cookrichmondfuneralhome.com.