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Sammie Mae Dortch IN HER OWN WORDS

“Sammie was a poor, simple colored woman who, through God’s grace, was allowed to serve others throughout the days of her life. In spite of her personae, she was a shy, quiet person who wanted to be remembered without fanfare. She believed that all the glory for whatever was done for the good for another belonged to God, and she (like others who were called to be “wounded healers”) was but an instrument of the Father.

Howard Thurman’s words best describe how she wanted to be  remembered:
‘The years, the months, the days, and the hours have flown by my open window. Here and there an incident, a towering moment, a naked memory, an etched countenance, a whisper in the dark, a golden glow—these and much, much more are woven fabric of the time I have lived. What I have written is but a fleeting intimation of the outside of what one [person] sees and may tell about the path [she] walks. No one shares the secret of a life; no one enters into the heart of the mystery. There are telltale signs that mark the passing of one’s appointed days. Always we are on the outside of our story, always we are beggars who seek entrance to the kingdom of our dwelling place. When we are admitted, the price exacted of us is the sealing of the lips. And this is the strangest of all the paradoxes, of the human adventure: we live inside all experience, but we’re permitted to be witness only to the outside. Such is the riddle of life and the story of the passing of our days.’”

OBITUARY

Born November 30, 1943 to Sam and Josephine Lewis in Bolton, Mississippi, Sammie Mae Dortch began a journey of growth that never ceased. Her entire life spoke to being a constant seeker of God and education, always encouraging others to do the same. After becoming a permanent resident of Chicago, she graduated from William Penn Elementary School and later Farragut High School. She continued her educational pursuits receiving an undergraduate degree at Roosevelt University as well as master’s and doctorate degrees in education from Northern Illinois University.

Dr. Sammie Dortch was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and worked in several social agencies throughout the Chicagoland area prior to moving to a career in academia. After having served a rich career with City Colleges of Chicago, she retired from Harold Washington College as the chairperson of the Applied Science Department, which consisted of five disciplines: Child Development, Social Service, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counseling, Criminal Justice, and Architecture. A well sought out counselor, advisor, mentor, and consultant, she was the recipient of numerous awards and distinguished honors.

Her life’s calling to serve others extended beyond the walls of formal education to entities that were committed to strengthening and educating communities with a special passion to supporting faith-based organizations. She would volunteer countless hours consulting, training, and tutoring various community-based organizations. Sammie was particularly sensitive to the wounded and youth, always asking the tough

questions that led to the road of healing, transformation, and growth. With a passion for social justice, she organized a coalition of community activists to present a community forum on the incarceration of women and its impact on the family. It was this passion for social justice along with her rich personal interest in cultural enrichment that led her to leadership roles in community organizations such as Community Renewal Society, Vivian Harsh Society, South Side Community Art Center, and Chicago Hyde Park Village. She also brought her expertise to churches by
providing individual and family counseling and professional consultation to leadership.

She was a faithful member of University Church for thirty-five years. It was there where she laid the foundation for “Off the Pews: Faith in Action,” an intergenerational, faith-based social justice model. Because of her leadership, Off the Pews offers programs that embrace inclusion and gives youth an alternative to violence. Sammie’s focus was to design programs to reduce the impact of trauma on youth that results from systemic violence. Sammie’s life was committed to glorifying God through serving others in the healing and transforming process. She was particularly sensitive to making sure that she responded when she felt God was leading her to action, no matter the sacrifice. Many lives have been blessed by her obedience. Her quiet yet powerful impact on the lives of many lives on. She was preceded in death by her son and only child, Hillery Stanford, II.

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memorial_sammieheader

Sammie Mae Dortch IN HER OWN WORDS

“Sammie was a poor, simple colored woman who, through God’s grace, was allowed to serve others throughout the days of her life. In spite of her personae, she was a shy, quiet person who wanted to be remembered without fanfare. She believed that all the glory for whatever was done for the good for another belonged to God, and she (like others who were called to be “wounded healers”) was but an instrument of the Father.

Howard Thurman’s words best describe how she wanted to be  remembered:
‘The years, the months, the days, and the hours have flown by my open window. Here and there an incident, a towering moment, a naked memory, an etched countenance, a whisper in the dark, a golden glow—these and much, much more are woven fabric of the time I have lived. What I have written is but a fleeting intimation of the outside of what one [person] sees and may tell about the path [she] walks. No one shares the secret of a life; no one enters into the heart of the mystery. There are telltale signs that mark the passing of one’s appointed days. Always we are on the outside of our story, always we are beggars who seek entrance to the kingdom of our dwelling place. When we are admitted, the price exacted of us is the sealing of the lips. And this is the strangest of all the paradoxes, of the human adventure: we live inside all experience, but we’re permitted to be witness only to the outside. Such is the riddle of life and the story of the passing of our days.’”

OBITUARY

Born November 30, 1943 to Sam and Josephine Lewis in Bolton, Mississippi, Sammie Mae Dortch began a journey of growth that never ceased. Her entire life spoke to being a constant seeker of God and education, always encouraging others to do the same. After becoming a permanent resident of Chicago, she graduated from William Penn Elementary School and later Farragut High School. She continued her educational pursuits receiving an undergraduate degree at Roosevelt University as well as master’s and doctorate degrees in education from Northern Illinois University.

Dr. Sammie Dortch was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and worked in several social agencies throughout the Chicagoland area prior to moving to a career in academia. After having served a rich career with City Colleges of Chicago, she retired from Harold Washington College as the chairperson of the Applied Science Department, which consisted of five disciplines: Child Development, Social Service, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counseling, Criminal Justice, and Architecture. A well sought out counselor, advisor, mentor, and consultant, she was the recipient of numerous awards and distinguished honors.

Her life’s calling to serve others extended beyond the walls of formal education to entities that were committed to strengthening and educating communities with a special passion to supporting faith-based organizations. She would volunteer countless hours consulting, training, and tutoring various community-based organizations. Sammie was particularly sensitive to the wounded and youth, always asking the tough

questions that led to the road of healing, transformation, and growth. With a passion for social justice, she organized a coalition of community activists to present a community forum on the incarceration of women and its impact on the family. It was this passion for social justice along with her rich personal interest in cultural enrichment that led her to leadership roles in community organizations such as Community Renewal Society, Vivian Harsh Society, South Side Community Art Center, and Chicago Hyde Park Village. She also brought her expertise to churches by
providing individual and family counseling and professional consultation to leadership.

She was a faithful member of University Church for thirty-five years. It was there where she laid the foundation for “Off the Pews: Faith in Action,” an intergenerational, faith-based social justice model. Because of her leadership, Off the Pews offers programs that embrace inclusion and gives youth an alternative to violence. Sammie’s focus was to design programs to reduce the impact of trauma on youth that results from systemic violence. Sammie’s life was committed to glorifying God through serving others in the healing and transforming process. She was particularly sensitive to making sure that she responded when she felt God was leading her to action, no matter the sacrifice. Many lives have been blessed by her obedience. Her quiet yet powerful impact on the lives of many lives on. She was preceded in death by her son and only child, Hillery Stanford, II.

Powered by Virtual Memorials | 800.390.9526