Dorris Calhoun

Oral History

Recorded in Summer 2020 with StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to preserve and share humanity's stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. It was facilitated by Mary Bess Ser.

www.storycorps.org

Biography

Dorris Ann Calhoun was born August 14th, 1946 in Mound Bayou, Mississippi to JC and Geneva Catchings. I was also raised by my grandparents, Arthur and Mattie Byers, on the farm in Roundaway, Mississippi. There were no babysitters so from the age of 3 until we moved to Chicago, I worked in the field and picked cotton alongside my mother or grandmother. They made me a white sack with a pink string to go over my shoulder so I could pick cotton. I also had my own watermelon patch. I learned how to collect eggs from the chickens and feed them.

I came to Chicago at the age of 5, went to Victor F. Lawson School from kindergarten to 6th grade, went to Julius Hayes Hess Upper Grade School for 7th and 8th grade. After that I attended John Marshall High School and then went to Chicago Job Corps where I was certified and licensed as a medical transcriptionist. My career was very eventful until retiring after 55 years.

I became a member of the Historical Stone Temple Baptist Church at the age of 12 under the leadership of the founding pastor Rev. James Marcellus Stone, the grandfather of our current pastor Bishop Derrick Milas Fitzpatrick, but had been attending and training there from the age of 8. I was a choir director, Sunday School teacher, assistant superintendent, Missionary Society member and teacher, singer, minister in charge of baptism candidates, giving communion to the sick and shut in, and then Pastor of Encouraging Word Ministries for 8 years.

I am currently retired, the mother of two daughters, Laurecia and Laverne, 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. I am currently working on my first of two books to be published by early 2021. My favorite scripture is Psalms 37 verses 3 and 4: “Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on his faithfulness.” Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass. My favorite song is “All I Own Comes from Jesus” and my favorite acronym is FAITH - Facing All Issues Through Hope.