Dorothy Jane Eure, known to family and friends as “Dotsy”, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to Lawrence and Mary Wilson. She was baptized and became a life- long active member of Zion Baptist Church.
Dorothy was united in Holy Matrimony to Albert A. Eure, and to this union four children were born: Albert Jr., Harry, Darryl and Tyrone.
Dorothy graduated from Omaha Technical High School and later attended professional schools where she received certification as a Paralegal Specialist. She worked the past 25 years for the Legal Aid Society. She was the first paralegal in the State of Nebraska to appear before administrative law judges in civil matters such as Social Security hearings, unemployment hearings and welfare hearings.
She was recognized and respected as a specialist in Social Security matters by judges and attorneys of the Bar Association. She won an exceptionally high rate of favorable court decisions on behalf of clients. She was experienced in litigation, rules of the court, both federal and state, and prepared interrogatories and briefs on behalf of clients and was knowledgeable of case law and statutory law. She actively worked to change the laws on mental health commitment procedures and worked to win the release of men and women unjustly in prison.
Dorothy was very active in the civil rights struggles from the 1940’s tom the present. She picketed against discrimination and racial injustice and because of her activities; she went to jail in a City Council demonstration. She also attended the Poor Peoples March in Washington, D.C.
Dorothy was an active member and sat on the executive board of many organizations including: Tomorrow’s World; the DePorres Club; 4CL, Coalition of Minority Artists; Afro-Academy of Dramatic Arts; NAACP; Urban League of Nebraska; National Council of Negro Women; Black Women Unlimited; Head Start; Florence Mills Neighborhood Association and many others.
Her honors and awards were numerous: Urban League Community Service Award; NAACP Award; National Legal Aid Society Award; Who’s Who in Nebraska; Women of Distinction-YMCA; Jefferson Award; Black Liberators for Action on Campus-UNO, and many others.
Dorothy’s greatest joy came in helping needy children. She created and organized an annual Christmas party for children starting in her home. She began 20 years ago with just a few neighborhood children and toys and other gifts she would buy all year. Since that time, the party grew in attendance. Last year, close to 500 children attended the party given by Dorothy at the North Christ Child Center with the help of Zion Baptist Church.
Above all her achievements in life, none meant more to her than being able to serve God and worship at Zion Baptist Church, where she sang in the Senior Choir, was active in Ruth Circle and helped each year with church activities and plays. Through her life in Jesus Christ, she believed no challenge was too great or too small. Even in the last few years of her illness, she displayed and enthusiasm for life and strong faith in God.
On Thursday, July 29, 1993, Dorothy said these words to her family: “I’m tired now, and I’m ready to go, “Good night.” And the Lord called her home.
