- Date Of Birth: October 9, 1938
- Date Of Death: November 28, 2020
- State: Michigan
Our beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend to many. A well-respected educator, mentor, community leader, and influential woman that loved every person she encountered. She devoted her life to ensuring all children were given a chance to reach their potential.
Dorothy was born October 9, 1938, to Zack E Hamlett, Sr. and Ollie Mae Hamlett, in Pinson Tennessee. Born into a family that owned and operated their own farm, she was the youngest of twelve children. Her parents planted the importance of education in the minds of each of their children. Dorothy began her education in an all-black elementary school in Pinson, continuing there through eighth grade.
Black students were not allowed to attend the high school in Pinson. Dorothy and her brothers and sisters walked and hitchhiked 10 miles daily to Merry High School in Jackson, Tennessee. She would fondly recall her father purchasing a pickup truck and transporting his children, and the other children in the community, on many of their daily trips to high school.
In 1956, Dorothy graduated from Merry High School near the top of her class, earning more than 30 academic and leadership awards. She continued her education and attended Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. While there, she made her mark academically and in various leadership roles, becoming a sister of Sigma Gamma Rho in 1957. Dorothy was chosen most outstanding senior at Lane and was named to the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She graduated from Lane College cum laude in 1960.
While attending Lane College, she met Curtis Young, a popular football player from Florida. Curtis and Dorothy married in 1962. They were both teaching and continued their teaching careers in Tennessee for a few years, before moving to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1966.
Dorothy started her career path as a teacher with Kalamazoo Public Schools while Curtis obtained a teaching position at Job Corps before later accepting a position in Kalamazoo Public Schools. They both earned their Masters Degrees from Western Michigan University. Dorothy’s diverse assignments with Kalamazoo Public Schools would encompass teaching, student services, consultant, and administrative positions.
While working with Kalamazoo Public Schools for 37 years, Dorothy’s nurturing personality, impactful leadership, and creative learning experience resulted in life long relationships with students, parents, guardians, teachers, school staff, and school district leaders. Her many years and devoted work as Principal at Hillside Middle School was the highlight of her educational career. By demonstrating her strong leadership, dedication, and passion for her students and staff she personified the Hillside Middle School motto “Believe, Achieve, Succeed”. She was recognized for this commitment in 2017 with the naming of the Dorothy P. Young Cafeteria and a street of her own.
Dorothy received recognition and obtained numerous awards including: Kalamazoo Public Schools Administrators UAW 2150 Outstanding Administrator Award, Ujima Enterprises, Inc. Outstanding Leadership Award (2001), Robert “Al” Goodwin and Dwight King Black Police Officers Association Pioneer Award (2003), NAACP-Greater Kalamazoo Branch Humanitarian of the Year Award (2004), Kalamazoo Foundation Billboard Project-Recognition of Philanthropy, Governor Granholm Senior Volunteer of the Year (2010), Western Michigan University Black Caucus Community Service Award, Fred Upton Award for Excellence in Education, YWCA Woman of Achievement (2014), Kalamazoo Legacy Ball Award (2015), and Sigma Gamma Rho Educator of the Year (2019).
In her retirement years, Dorothy remained actively involved and held positions in several organizations including: Saturday Eves’ Book Club (Founding member started in 1968), Northside Association for Educational Advancement (NAEA since 1972), Community Advocates for Parents and Students (CAPS), Mothers of Hope, Push for Learning, Pretty Lake Adventure Camp Board, Douglass Community Association Board of Directors, Duane Young Scholarship (Board Member), Sigma Gamma Rho, Lifetime membership with NAACP, and Lane College Alumni Class of 1960.
Dorothy peacefully departed this life on Saturday, November 28, 2020. She was proceeded in death by her parents, loving husband Curtis, and all of her brothers and sisters. She leaves to cherish her memory, her two children, LaWanda Ward (Walter) and Curtis Duane Young of Kalamazoo, MI; seven grandchildren, Britney Bolden (Stephen), Curtis Duane Young, Jr. both of Kalamazoo, MI, Chantel Romero of San Diego, CA, Taylor Young, Courtney Young of Lansing, MI, Jamaal Conger and Dewey Young both of Kalamazoo, MI. Four great-grandchildren, Aniya Young, Cadence Young, Lilliana Young, and Jordan Bolden, and brother in love, Cliff Parker of Indianapolis, IN. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and her 86-year-old niece, Penda Lee Hughes of Tiptonville, TN. She leaves an everlasting imprint in the hearts of many great friends, former students, teachers, and other staff that she touched.
