Remembering a Rabia Court Senior Daughter With a Heart for Giving

Contributed by Dt. Yvonne McKesson, PC Golden Years Mentoring Chair Rabia Court No. 25 Oasis of Jacksonville

The size of your gift does not determine the impact. It’s the love and kindness rendered that leave a lasting impression.

With the death of Dt. Delores McNair Duffee, in January of this year, Rabia Court No. 25 (Oasis of Jacksonville) and the Desert of Florida, lost a special person. Dt. Duffee cannot be replaced, but she left a shining example for her fellow Daughters to follow.

Dt. Duffee was a member of the Daughters for more than 40 years, but that did not stop her from working hard. She volunteered at a Jacksonville nursing home weekly when her health permitted. In addition to her community service at the nursing home, the senior Daughter chaired the Court’s Voices of Rabia committee who sing Christmas carols each year at the nursing home. The Court makes monetary donations during the year to the facility for their bingo prizes.

The COVID-19 pandemic prevented Dt. Duffee from volunteering at the nursing home in 2020. Nevertheless, she contacted the activities director and arranged to make a special delivery at the facility. She enlisted the support of other Daughters to help her fill gift bags with peppermints and candy canes for the residents. Dt. Duffee and her team personally delivered the bags and the Court’s donation to the nursing home.