Dorothy Elizabeth Burgess Manuel was born in New Kent County, Virginia July 8, 1931, the daughter of the late Joe Burgess and Martha Annie Burgess King. She departed this life and entered her heavenly home surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, February 22, 2024.

In her early years Dorothy joined Union Baptist Church in New Kent County Virginia. She attended New Kent County Public Schools. She married her childhood sweetheart and loving husband of 72 years, Mearal Alexander Manuel Sr., in 1951. Dorothy relocated with her family to Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1959. During the fifty plus years there, she was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, N.J. (Rev. Dr. Deforest 'Buster Soaries, Pastor); and a member of the Eastern Star Martha Grand Chapter, Golden Links of Newark, N.J.

During her early years of marriage, Dorothy worked for Eastern Airlines preparing meals for planes. In New Jersey, she worked for several companies, including Deluxe Toy Creations and a company that assembled electronic guitar amplifiers. She worked many years as a nurse's aide until her daughter's illness forced her to become a full-time caregiver. In 2019, she relocated to Virginia Beach to be near family.

Dorothy genuinely enjoyed shopping for the latest fashions, cooking, talking on the telephone for hours and hours with relatives and friends, discussing politics, and watching the Mets, her favorite sports team, play baseball. She enjoyed a daily ginger ale, good old fashion crab cakes, and had to have her fried chicken.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joe Burgess and Martha A. King; her brother, Richard Burgess; her sister, Josephine Crocker and recently by her husband, Mearal A. Manuel Sr.

Those left to cherish precious memories include her children, Marilyn Charleston, Wilma and Mearal Jr. (Yvonne); grandchildren, Jawuan, Richard, Sevyn, Malachi, Yasmeen Yasin, Mya Anita and Ezekiel Mayers, Mufeed, Baseemah and Mearal 3rd Washington, Mujahid Manuel, Dorissa Paige (Shawntrell), Isaac Pitts; great grandchildren, Brandon, Justin, Little Mufeed, Elijah, Zion, Serenity, Xavier Whitney, Ciara Pitts; godchildren, Demetris and Laura Waddell; a loving niece, Avis Harrold and nephews, Richard Burgess Jr. and Charles Crocker Jr; four sisters-in-law, four brothers-in-law; a host of other nieces, nephews and cousins; loving and devoted friends, Walter Bowen, Jospeh and Ruby McSwain, Mittie Waddell; caregivers, Marcy Dees, Laurice Yarn and Heart Hospice Services.

Remains rest at Walter J. Manning Funeral Home, 700 N. 25th St., where viewing will take place Friday, March 8, 2024, from 2 to 7 p.m., and where the family will receive friends that same day from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Fourth Baptist Church, 2800 P St., on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 11 a.m. Entombment Washington Memorial Park.