Lorraine A. Lavender

Lorraine Lavender passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 after a long illness.  She was 90 years old.

Born March 18th, 1930, in Belleview, NJ, she grew up with her parents Gladys E. Dickinson and Matthew Howard Dickinson.  She was the eldest of five sisters.

Lorraine was a certified travel counselor with 50 years in the industry.  She retired from EXXON in Bayonne, New Jersey in 1992.  During retirement, she operated several travel agencies in New Jersey.  Throughout her life, Lorraine was actively involved in community activism and civic engagement.  She served on the advisory board for the Gladys E. Dickinson Neighborhood Health Center in Newark, NJ, which was named after her mother.  In addition, she tirelessly advocated for tenants' rights for decades and more recently campaigned for Cory Booker.  At heart, she was an artist, writing volumes of poetry, reporting news, and volunteering with The African Globe Theatreworks (founded by the late Kabur Okai Davies).

Lorraine is survived by her sons, Wayne Lavender of Piscataway, N.J. and Alan Lavender, Sr. (Denise) of Parkesburg, PA; her sister Ella "Peggy" Anderson of Montclair, N.J.; her grandchildren Shariyf D. Abdul Qabid (N.M.), Monica Lavender (N.M.), Michael Lavender (PA), Terry Lavender (PA), Dawn Hammond-Amadi (MD), Lynette Hammond Gerido (FL), and Alan Lavender, Jr. (PA), a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  

She was preceded in death by her son, Charles H. Lavender, Jr. (Barbara), three sisters, Mattie Ann, Nancy, and Marsha Lee.

A private graveside memorial service in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Atglen, Pa. will be held at a later date.  

In lieu of flowers, your support for the arts, activism, and travel would be appreciated, in honor of Lorraine.  Here are three options:

1. The Newark Museum of Art
Attn: Tribute Gifts
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102

2. Essex Country Legal Aid Association
41 Watchung Plaza, #233
Montclair, NJ 07042

3. Black Girls Travel Too

Let Go--Let GOD

When life seems more than you can bear
Call on Jesus, he's always there.
When trouble comes calling at your door,
Don't forget to call on the Lord.
Never doubt the power of the word.
There's a phrase that you should hear.
Look to heaven for salvation,
Surely you will receive a revelation.
Give up the struggle here on earth.
You will know the joy of relief,
When you let go and let God be the chief.

By Lorraine Lavender (June 2005).