Jacqueline Dell

Groton - The angels escorted Jacqueline (Rhodes) Dell of Groton, to the New Jerusalem on Thursday, June 12, 2014.

Jacqueline R. Dell was born July 19, 1929, in Covington, Ky., the second daughter of Robert Salee and Jessie Rebecca Rhodes. She attended St. Paul AME Zion Church of Covington and was active in church ministries, including Buds of Promise, the Anthem Choir and Sunday School. Throughout her childhood and youth, she was active in the Girl Scouts, the Y Teens and played her trombone in bands and dance orchestras. She attended Lincoln Grant High School in Covington and graduated in 1948. Following high school, Jacqueline Rhodes attended West Virginia State College, becoming a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, graduating in 1952 with a bachelor's degree in education.

After her college graduation, Jacqueline Rhodes taught sixth grade and band in the public schools of Fitzgerald, Ga. She remained active in church work and eventually met and married John Henry Dell, an electrician, in 1952. Jacqueline and John Dell moved to Connecticut and began their family of four children, Charity Jonda, Howard Edward, Michael Jerome and Patrick Norman. Jacqueline R. Dell taught in the Groton Public Schools for many decades, including Eastern Point School, William Seely School and finally retiring from Noank School in 1997.

Throughout her life, Jacqueline served in church ministries at Walls Temple AME Zion Church and later Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ in New London. She was a Sunday School superintendent and teacher, Vacation Bible School director, director of an instrumental band at Pentecostal Temple, local and state Sunshine Band director for the Diocese of Connecticut (COGIC), and soprano singer in the local church choir. During the late 1950s to 1964, Jacqueline was active in the New London Branch of the NAACP, as head of its education committee.

Throughout the 1970s, she organized a Christian band called "Living Water", which performed in churches and community events. She was also active in convalescent home ministries with her family and the late Sister Lora Mayo, church accompanist.

Jacqueline R. Dell also served as worship leader and choir director at Packerville Baptist Church in Plainfield, assisting her husband Rev. John H. Dell as pastor of the Plainfield congregation from 1986 to 1997. She also served as a Connecticut delegate on the White House Conference on Aging under President George H.W. Bush in 1985. In 1990, Jacqueline founded and directed Vision for Missions, a Christian charitable organization which serves children in Jamaica, West Indies and Lodwar, Kenya. Vision for Missions provided funding for pre-schools and health clinics in Jamaica and a pre-school and orphanage in Lodwar, Kenya.

Upon her husband's retirement from the pastorate, Jacqueline and John Dell joined New Life Christian Fellowship Church in Ledyard, where she founded the Senior Choir and continued her life's passion with Vision for Missions.

Rev. John Dell predeceased Jacqueline in 2005.

She leaves four children, Charity, Howard, Michael and Patrick; several grandchildren, Jennah Dell, Katie Perras, Zondalee Van Niekerk and Abby O'Connor; daughter-in-law, Darlene Dell; siblings, Marion Harper, Vera James, Elizabeth Carter, Sandra Springfield, Jesse Rhodes, Clinton Rhodes and Robert Rhodes; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Jacqueline was predeceased by her brother, Darwin Rhodes.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Vision For Missions, P.O. Box 1902, Groton, CT 06340.

Jacqueline R. Dell's homegoing celebration will be held at noon Saturday, June 21, 2014, at the New Life Fellowship Christian Church, 1729 Center Groton Road, Ledyard, CT 06339.

Visitors are encouraged to wear white, light, or bright festive colors and bring a small percussion instrument (maracas, claves, tamborines, jingle taps, shaker eggs, bongosor cowbell) to this joyful celebration. Interment will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London.

Please visit www.byles.com for directions, to sign her guestbook or to share a memory.