February 6, 1931 – May 15, 2023
Doris Howard Ridley of Petersburg VA passed away on May 15, 2023.
Doris was born in Fredericksburg VA in 1931. She excelled academically and graduated from Walker Grant High School and continued on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from Virginia State University and a Master’s Degree from Indiana University. Doris retired from Virginia State University and served as Director for Upward Bound. She was actively involved in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Delta Omega Chapter and she was also actively involved in The Links Incorporated, Petersburg (Va) Chapter. In addition, she was actively involved in C.H.U.M.S. Inc, Petersburg (Va) Chapter and she was a founding member of the Petersburg Aquarius and Pisces Club.
Doris is survived by her Brother-in-law, Lt. Col.( Ret) Burnett Peters Jr., nephew, Col.( Ret) Burnett Peters III(Jeanne), nieces Karen Peters Hughes, Jean Hembrick (Bruce) and June Stokes(Terry), Deborah Howard, Elease Howard, and Roslyn Holsey (David), great nephew Maj Burnett Peters IV(Ashley), great nieces Meredith Peters (Nick), Jaclyn Stokes, Ashley Hembrick, Brittany Hembrick, great nephews Terry Stokes, Spencer Peters, Joseph Peters and great-great nephews William Peters, James Masterson, great-great nieces Audrey Peters and Evelyn Peters.
Doris is preceded in death by husband John Ridley, parents, James and Tamar Howard, grandmother, Catherine Jenkins and brother, James Andrew Howard Jr.
Services will be held 12 Noon, Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at First Baptist Church, 236 Harrison Street, Petersburg, VA, the Rev. Dr Jeremiah Tillman, Pastor and eulogist. The interment to follow at Dinwiddie Memorial Park.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at First Baptist Church. The Ivy Beyond Wall Ceremony and the Link Ceremony will also be held during visitation hours.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made payable by check/money order to The Ivy Community Foundation, P.O. Box 2033, Petersburg, VA 23803. In addition, for zelle donations, please send to: ictreas.21@gmail.com, please specify The Doris Ridley Scholarship.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of the J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsinc1874.com.