Title
To honor, recognize and celebrate the life of Mrs. Dorothy Mae Brunston Cage-Evans and to extend our sincerest condolences to her family and friends on the occasion of her passing, Monday, October 7, 2019.
Body
WHEREAS, the members of Columbus City Council extend this resolution of expression to honor the life and service of Mrs. Dorothy Cage Evans who passed away on Monday, October 7, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy was born on November 16, 1933 to Raymond and Goldie Clair Brunston in Nelsonville, Ohio - Dorothy worked and retired as a management analyst from the Defense Supply Center of Columbus and will be remembered in this community for her unwavering focus toward improving the lives of low-income, underserved and underrepresented individuals - with more than 50 years of volunteerism - her efforts were well known and touched a number of organizations including, but not limited to, The Ohio Commission on Minority Health, Operation Feed, The United Way of Central Ohio, the Black United Fund of America, UNCF, I Know I Can, The American Heart Association, The Central Ohio Diabetes Association, CMACAO, Junior Achievement, Southeast Christian Academy and others; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy co-founded The Greater Columbus Community Helping Hands, Inc. an organization to provide young people a helping hand in the transition from high school to college, she was a member of Continental Societies, Federally Employed Women, the King Arts Complex Women’s Service Board, The Columbus NAACP, The Twin Rivers Chapter of the Links, Inc. the City of Hope - moreover she helped organize and establish The American Cancer Society Service and Information Center, which provided inner city residents access to information, education and screenings; the first prototype in this country - she was also the first African-American female member of the American Cancer Society Franklin County Unit Board of Directors and later served as an Ohio Division Trustee for the American Cancer Society where she was an advocate for quality health care, cancer awareness, prevention & service, as well as eliminating racism; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy established the Cage Family Scholarship Fund at the Columbus Foundation to support scholarships for African-American students - her more than 100 awards include the Mayor Award for Volunteer Service, the Jefferson Award for Public Service, Junior Achievement, the YWCA’s Women of Achievement - and in 2013 she was inducted into the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Hall of Fame, which was established to honor and preserve the memory of past associates for their exceptional leadership, service, dedication to duty, and contributions in supporting the DLA mission; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of New Salem Baptist Church - she chaired the Stewardship Campaign, Evangelism and Hospitality Committees, she served as the Coordinator of the Food Pantry Program, was a Holiday Outreach Project Coordinator, served as a Trustee and was a member of the Sims Cleveland Sunday School Class and Scholarship Program Chair; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy was a platinum member of the Columbus Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, where she was a leader including a term as president; she was a member of the Columbus Chapter of The Sophisticates, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Jack and Jill of America, the American Society of Clinical Pathologists; the Catholic Social Services development board, the Comp Drug Board of Directors - she supported the work of the Community for New Directions, the United Way, the Columbus Museum of Art, she founded two bridge clubs: the Kardames and the Short Bridge Clubs, and made many lifelong friends; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy will be missed, to cherish her memory she leaves: husband Henry “Hank” Evans; children Michael (Betty) Cage and Melanie (Alonzo) Cage-Cates; five grandchildren, Michael Cage, II; Kristie Cates-Harris, Brandon Cates, Michael Smith, and Micah Smith; five great grandchildren Christian Wright, Krystn Harris, Michael Cates, Christopher Harris and Krystyna Harris; sister Marietta Douglas, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Melvin Cage who was a devoted father to their two children; parents Raymond and Goldie Brunston; brothers David Larry Brunston, Russell Gene Brunston, and Paul Brunston; sisters Ruth Ann Evans and Janice Sue Mathews-Ward and a host of other family and friends; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby honor, recognize and celebrate the life of Mrs. Dorothy Mae Brunston Cage-Evans and extend our sincerest condolences to her family and friends on the occasion of her passing, Monday, October 7, 2019.