Alice King

Katherine Taylor Jessup and Clinton Morral Jessup. Lorraine, as she was affectionately known, received her education in the Baltimore City Public Schools and graduated from Douglass Senior High School. She furthered her education, receiving an associate degree in business administration, from the University of Maryland-Baltimore. In 1948, Lorraine married the late Bernard Edward Owens and from their union one daughter was born, Kathy Elizabeth. Their marriage ended in divorce. As a young adult, Lorraine attended Union Temple Baptist Church, Baltimore, under the leadership of the late Rev. Charles Churn. Later, Lorraine moved her religious affiliation to Bethel A.M.E. Church where she served as a Trustee, Usher Board President, and Chair/ Co-chair for anniversary celebrations, serving under the leadership of Bishop John Bryant. She absolutely loved worshipping at Bethel and treasured the many friends she met there. When Bishop Bryant left Bethel, Lorraine once again changed her religious affiliation and converted to Roman Catholicism, receiving her catechism under the late Monsignor Edward M. Miller. As with everything she did, Lorraine embraced her new religion with zeal and enthusiasm. She loved the order and rituals of the Catholic Church; and because she was a member of St. Bernardine’s, she was at home with the African American spirit of the mass that was the hallmark of the church under the “Pope of Edmondson Village”- Monsignor Miller. For decades, Lorraine was employed as the Payroll Comptroller at the Afro American Newspaper Company. Upon leaving the Afro, she worked for many years for the federal government in the AmeriCorps program, (the stateside equivalent of the Peace Corps). She commuted daily via Amtrak, and she thoroughly enjoyed that experience. She had a tremendously close bond with her ‘train buddies.’ When her mother passed, Lorraine resigned her AmeriCorps position and with the assistance of her older sister, the late Marie Taylor, she embarked upon yet another career. She became a Nanny to first Noah Brown, and finally to Emily and Grace Stubblefield. She adored those children and they her, in return. Lorraine always looked like she stepped out of a band box. She was stylish and impeccably dressed, with every hair in place and her manicured nails always perfect. She had been a model with Flair Studios. Lorraine had been an active member of the Women’s Auxiliary of Provident Hospital, serving in many leadership roles. She also loved to play bridge and pinochle and enjoyed her turn as host for her groups. Lorraine relished traveling with her dear friend Eleanor Moore and at other times with family. She visited Martha’s Vineyard; Lake Junaluska, NC; Jamaica; Puerto Rico; Mexico; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; the Grand Canyon; Los Angeles and San Francisco, California; Canada; and New York. Lorraine leaves to celebrate her ninety-two years of an exceptional life: her loving daughter and caregiver, Kathy; one beloved granddaughter, Kellee A. Parrott Gonzalez, (Edwin); her devoted former son-in-law, Dennis S. Parrott; two adored great-grandchildren, Katherine Taylor Parrott and Cristian Tyler Gonzalez; her special grandchildren, John C. Berkley and Karen Brown Berkley and Avon V. Nelson; her most devoted nieces, Kay Y. Jessup, JoAnn Ransom, Yvonne Cousin, Cynthia Cousin Williams, Sharnette Vidal Moore and Antoinette Moore; and her most devoted nephew, Steven L. Jessup, Sr.; her cherished Goddaughter, Kenya Cousin; and so many other dear nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Lorraine was predeceased by her sisters, Ann Marie Taylor and Barbara Ernestine Jessup and her brothers, James Morral Jessup, and Milton Leon Jessup. Lorraine struck a deal with her dearest friend, the late Muriel E. Cousin, to donate their bodies to the Maryland State Anatomy Board. In the pre-dawn hours, on July 29, 2023, Lorraine and Muriel were once again united in their heavenly place, (where the batteries do not run out on the telephones)!!

Tributes

Alice King

July 1, 1931 - July 29, 2023