Dorothy Hadley Utley was born in Mattoon, the daughter of Bertha
Estell and Jesse Hadley. She attended elementary school there
and 2 years at Mattoon High School.
Dorothy worked as a domestic and baby-sitter early in life. She
moved to Danville where she met and married a professional musician.
To this union was born one son. She moved to Champaign, Illinois
with her son in 1942, was employed at the Chanute Air Force Base
in Rantoul, Illinois and established a permanent home. In 1949,
she married a Serviceman, Rubavent Utley. He passed away in 1984.
During those years, she worked as an Elevator Operator at Robeson's
Department Store for one year and for 15 years as a Waitress at
Katsina's Restaurant. She retired from this position in 1984.
Dorothy's career as a Volunteer began in 1962 when she served
as a Nurse's Aide at Mercy Hospital for 1 year and at Burnham
City Hospital for 15 years, plus serving as Assistant Supervisor
in Central Supply at Burnham Hospital.
Her need and willingness to serve as a Volunteer intensified after
her husband's death and proved to be good therapy for her grief.
She became involved with the Retired Senior and Volunteer Program,
serving on its Advisory Board. She also served on: Champaign County
Health Care Consumer's Task Force, the Medicare 100 Program; The
Pharmacy Watch Program; Champaign-Urbana Economic Partnership;
the American Cancer Society; Campaign for Better Health; Center
for Women in Transition; Children's Home and Aid Society; Head
Start; Family Service; Habitat for Humanity; Stevick Senior Center;
Provena Behavioral Health; and the United Way, just to name a
few. She was a Life Member of the American Legion Post #559. Her
hobbies were cooking, sewing and reading.
Dorothy Hadley Utley
)
denotes original charter members of the Champaign County Section
of the National Council of Negro Women.