Delores Long Kinney, age 81, passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday morning, October 19, 2023 after a brief period of illness. She was surrounded by her loving family. Delores was the daughter of the late Annie Lorena Long, and wife of John Baxley Kinney for the past 62 years.
Delores, was known affectionately as Dee by family, friends and acquaintances, as DeeDee by her grandchildren, and "Mamma" by her husband. A life-long resident of Burlington, NC, she was a homemaker as well as co-owner of their family business, PRO-FORMS & Systems, Inc., serving as Vice President and bookkeeper. She was a long-time member of Hocutt Memorial Baptist Church where she served faithfully as a Primary Children's Sunday School teacher for many of those years. Dee loved to travel! She and husband, John, were veteran road trippers who crisscrossed the country from coast to coast, visiting nearly every state, numerous places in Canada, and scores of the major and minor National Parks along the way. Her travels also took her to England and visits to numerous cities that dot the Rhine River from Switzerland to Amsterdam. A personal trait that she wore quietly was her innate habit of complimenting both friends and total strangers on the spur of the moment. It might be a mention of their hair style, their shoes, a pocketbook, a sweater, or a man's necktie. Just about anything that immediately caught her eye was "open game" as she came in contact with people from every walk of life. Dee was a self-proclaimed expert on fashionable men's ties, and husband, John, would catch the brunt of it when, out of the blue, she would critique neckties worn by TV anchormen and celebrities at various times!
Delores is survived by her husband, John, of the home; daughter, Andrea Schierkolk and husband, Chris; and grandchildren, Flynn and Gabe of Washington, DC; and by her son, Jonathan Bradley Kinney, and grandchildren, Dean and Devin of Lakeland, FL.
A graveside service to celebrate her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at Alamance Memorial Park (lakeside) by Rev. Marcus Stewart and Rev. Jimmy Nickelston. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Lowe Funeral Home & Crematory.
Memorials may be made to AuthoraCare/Hospice, 918 Chapel Hill Rd. Burlington, NC 27215, or BrightFocus (Alzheimer) Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871, or New Life at Hocutt Church, 312 Logan St, Burlington, NC 27217.
