Claudie Dolberry, Jr.

Claudie Dolberry, Jr. was born on September 17, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late Claudie and Annabelle (Lewis) Dolberry. He passed away on July 10, 2024 surrounded by his wife and daughters.

Baptized by the Catholic church, he served as an altar boy and attended St. John Neumann High School in Philadelphia. He was a star basketball player in the city of Philadelphia and was a fan of the sport as a basketball player in his youth and as a coach for students at Leeward Community College in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he received his Associate in Arts degree while stationed in Hawaii as an Airman in the U.S. Air Force. He would go on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Hawaii.

An explorer who was anxious to see the world, he left his home in Philadelphia at a young age and joined the U.S. Army. He would later join the U.S. Air Force, where he served with distinction. He retired from the Air Force as a Senior Master Sargent after an exemplary 26-year long career in the U.S Armed Services. He later held positions with the U.S. Department of Defense and with the State of New Jersey.

Claudie celebrated 58 years of marriage to his wife Carol (Davis) Dolberry, who he met while visiting the First Isthmian Baptist Church in the City of Colón, Panamá. Claudie was devoted to his wife Carol, who was the love of his life and soulmate. He found a second home with Carol's family who hailed from Jamaica and Panamá. As a serviceman, he went to Panamá after completing a tour of duty in Thailand in the early 1960s.

Always curious to learn about other cultures and countries, he would set out on his own as a young man, oftentimes with a camera in his hand, to document what he saw. A legacy of this curiosity are the many photographs and slides that the family enjoyed over the years. In addition to photography and basketball, he loved to fish, cook, and listen to jazz and classic R&B. He was known as a great chef to his family and friends. He also watched several thousand basketball games over his lifetime, always rooting for the Philadelphia 76ers when they played.

A practicing Catholic and a supporter of Catholic Charities and other organizations providing support and assistance to individuals and communities in need, Claudie lived his faith.

Claudie is preceded by his siblings Ralph Dolberry, Marion Kearney (James), Carol Ann Dolberry, and Patty J. Dolberry Pringle.

Claudie is survived by his loving wife Carol; daughters Claudine and Lisa; son-in-law Eric; his brothers and sisters Martha Charles (Barry), Janis Carter (Charles), James, Henry, Columbus (Cynthia), Annie D. Ammons (Ira), and Barbara Odom (Hozell); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.