Doris Jeane Terry

Doris Jeane Terry peacefully transitioned to be with her Lord and Savior on May 11, 2022, at Allegheny General Hospital. Born in Stonewall, Mississippi, Doris was predeceased by her parents, Lucy (Howze) and Curtis Cornell Hand, Sr. and her brothers Robert and Curtis Cornell Hand, Jr.

The family moved to Pittsburgh when Doris was eight years old.  After graduating from Allegheny High School, she furthered her education by attending the University of Pittsburgh concentrating on business courses. Employed by Bell Telephone Company (later Verizon), Doris was a School Relations Representative for the company and later a liaison between the Pittsburgh Public Schools and Bell Telephone. She retired in 1995. Doris’s passion for genealogy was well known to all who knew her, especially her dear cousin Jackie Allie.  The two of them traveled together researching family history and tracing their family roots.

It was not all work and no play for Doris, however.  She loved to travel, was an excellent cook, enjoyed gardening and card playing, especially bid whist, and she could certainly hold her own on the dance floor!  She also was a voracious reader of books dealing with black history.  Langston Hughes was one of her favorite authors.  She was also very family oriented and helped to organize family reunions to enable relatives to meet and get to know one another better through conversations, breaking bread together and just having fun.

Following her retirement, Doris concentrated on her interest in genealogy.  She was a member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, the National Council of Negro Women, former member and president of Club 21, a member of Pioneers, a volunteer network that aids the underserved and marginalized populations.

Doris also established an electronic medical billing program that she ran from home after retirement. Doris was a fiercely loyal and trusting individual who valued honesty and expected the same.  She was a straight shooter and did not tolerate trust betrayals and deceit. When illness came and robbed her of her strength and health, the Lord held her in his arms and took her unto himself.

Doris will be lovingly remembered by family and friends, especially her nieces and nephews:  Josephine Hand Rigmaiden, Jacqueline Hand Harper (Mark), Curtis Cornell Hand III (Stacey) children of her brother Curtis and his wife Shirley Mike Hand, and Sandra Virginia Hand and the late Robert Hand, Jr. children of her brother Robert and his wife Ann. Additionally, many great nieces and nephews; too many to name and many cousins.

Family and friends received from 10:00am-11:00am on Friday, June 17, 2022, followed by a memorial service starting at 11:00am at Pittsburgh Cremation & Funeral Care, 5405 Steubenville Pike, Robinson Township, PA 15136. (412) 787-1800.

Tribute Photo Slide Show:

https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/W3SBCZH53QG93DPR