Sunrise: April 2, 1943. Sunset: October 20, 2026.

Delores Barham was born at Freedman Hospital to Frederic Vaughan Barnes and Mildred Miller. They gave her a spirit of fighting determination that lasted her entire life. She was educated in the District of Columbia public school system. Her family attended Mass in the Catholic church it was there she met a young altar boy named Walter Jerome Barham (October 25, 1942 – May 15, 2015). They would begin a courtship, marrying at St. Luke’s Church in Washington D.C., on June 25, 1962; and remaining married for fifty-three years, to this union no children were born.

Delores began her career in civil drafting at a time when women were not expected to take a leadership role. Her eye for the smallest detail and her excellent renderings made her a sought-after member of her engineering team. During this time, she developed a love of gardening that became a lifelong passion. Often visiting historical gardens where she could name every bloom, she often said, “I am most happy around animals and flowers.” Her love of exterior beauty was only matched by her keen eye for fashion and interior design. An animal lover her entire life she enjoyed horses and raised several prized Bouvier des Flandres dogs during her lifetime.

A fan of soul music, her collection of recordings included Marvin Gaye, Walter Jackson, Anita Baker, jazz greats such as Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and Ella Fitzgerald added to her collection.

After a valiant fight against advanced colon cancer, surrounded by the sounds of gospel great Mahalia Jackson and her favorite flowers, Delores peacefully succumbed to the disease.

She is survived by many relatives, a host of friends and her beloved neighbors.

The family will greet friends after the memorial service for light refreshments and shared memories. A private burial is planned at Cheltenham Veterans Burial Grounds.