Rebecca N. Dyson

Rebecca Naomi Dyson, the youngest daughter of late Dock S. Richardson and Sarah M. Richardson was born on August 5, 1938 in our nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Rebecca received her formal education in the DC Public School System and further matriculated at Howard University where she was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutritional Services in May of 1960. In addition to attending an esteemed HBCU, she was a proud member of the NAACP. Over the course of her life she shared many memorable stories. One event that really stood out when she was younger was that she definitely had no love for swimming. She shared that she almost drowned during a swimming class while attending Howard. The story starts that she jumped in the pool and then the next recollection was finding the bottom of the pool. She said, “I touched the bottom and took in a mouth full of water. I sunk back down to the bottom, came up a second time and did the same thing”. The fight had begun – Rebecca against the water and she almost “didn’t make it”. The instructor had forewarned that if you take in three mouthfuls “you’re dead”. She continued, “After I went down the third time, I thought to myself where is the pole”? The pole finally came and rescued her from the struggle. The instructor said, “Becky what happened”? Her reply was, “I was drowning”. On that day she got dressed and determined that she had met all of her elective requirements to be cleared for graduation. That was the beginning and end of that swimming class. Rebecca was extremely knowledgeable and definitely knew she was not thenext Olympic contender for the 200m breaststroke. After graduation Rebecca embarked upon her fifty-two-year career in food and nutrition. She served in various roles as coordinator, clinical dietitian and food services manager while employed with the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Liberty Medical Center. In these roles she directed clinical aspects for patients with diabetes, oversaw nutrition support for the Medical Surgery and Neurological Units. She also planned and taught classes in care management and dietary modification. In addition, she designed a programmatic approach to hypertension control and directed clinical services to renal patients. Before retiring in 2013, she gave her time and talents as an administrator to Tuttie’s Place, a group home in Baltimore, MD. She was committed to helping others and maintaining her affiliations with the Registered Licensed Dietitians of the State of Maryland and the American Dietetic Association. Her entire work-life was a reflection of her care, love, and compassion for the betterment of life for all who crossed her path. She was baptized at the age of 9. Throughout many trials in her spiritual journey and countless prayers, she found deliverance and her soul was retrieved by Yahweh Ben Yahweh on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. She was regularly found nestled and content relaxing in her blissful, serene and peaceful home enjoying the fruits of her labor. It was in that home that she made her transition. She was full of life and loved traveling and taking the speculative plunge with trips to the casinos. She also found great joy and happiness while spending time with herself inclusive of her many solo bingo nights. She was affectionately known as Mother, Grandmother, GeGe and Aunt Becky. As a lover of family, she enjoyed time with her grands and bringing smiles to their faces with her storytelling skills. She had a knack for providing comedic relief to situations that were often of serious nature a continued display of her love and care towards her family. She clearly was studious in home economics because she was proficient at cooking, sewing, and knitting. She was known for her baking specialties including wheat and zucchini breads, cakes, and bean pies. Her marriage to Leroy M. Dyson gifted her three loving children, Shawn (Kimberly), Jocque (Debbie), and Nijila who were blessed to call her “Mother”. She also leaves cherished memories to six grandchildren, Tishawna, Ammar(Precious), Jaleel, Maxwell, Christopher, and Angela; three great grandchildren, Zoe, Bella, and Shiloh; one sister, Marjorie; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. Rebecca now joins the ranks of those gone on before including her parents, Dock and Sarah and her siblings, Sarah, Alvin and Sonny.

Tributes

Rebecca N. Dyson

August 5, 1938 - December 2, 2020