Della Steele

Della Mae Steele was born on September 13, 1947 in Effingham County, Georgia to the late Frank Childs, Sr and Bertha Adams Childs. She went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 under home hospice care.

She was baptized at an early age at Richmond Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev R.P. Pringle. She was a devoted member and served faithfully as the church secretary and trustee until her illness made it impossible for her to serve.

She was educated in Effingham and Chatham County School Systems, graduating from Sophronia Tompkins High School in 1966. She furthered her education at Armstrong Atlantic State University, obtaining her B.S. in Nursing. She worked at Memorial Medical University for many years, but retired as a school nurse with Chatham County School System.

After retirement, she became very active in the community. She co-founded the North Port Wentworth Citizens Council, Inc. Her efforts for equal rights in the Port Wentworth Community were recognized by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights (2010). Della was instrumental in spearheading efforts to revitalize the Houston Baptist Church. After much effort, this building is now the Houston Heritage Museum. She also successfully secured the historical markers for the Houston Baptist Church and the Richmond Baptist Church. Della was recognized as an outstanding citizen by the City of Port Wentworth and the Della M. Steele Community Park is located on Highway 30 in Port Wentworth.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivory Steele and son, Rodney Steele.

Della leaves to cherish her memories, two sons, Glenn Steele (LaTisa), Anthony Steele (Nicolette), one brother, Preste Childs (Florence), sisters-in-law, Mattie Childs, Dorothy Childs, Robbie Ruth Morgan, Rose Duffin, and Victoria Steele, one brother-in-law, James Steele, Sr, four grandchildren, Ivory, Glenn Jr., Zaria, and Allison McCrae, and foster grandchildren, Lawree'l, Harold, and Murphy Brown. She also leaves a host of nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.

Services will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 1 pm at the Richmond Baptist Church. Interment to follow in Magnolia Memorial Gardens