TREES

by Joyce Kilmer (1886~1918)

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

“Trees” was one of the favorite poems of Dorothy Mae Wesson.

The Wesson Family would like to extend their sincere thanks to each of you

for the love and support you have shown throughout this very difficult time.

In Loving Memory of

Dorothy Mae Wesson

December 4, 1925 ~ July 7, 2016

Interment 9:30 a.m.

Friday ~ July 15, 2016 Sacramento Valley National Cemetery

5810 Midway Road Dixon, California

Dorothy Mae Wesson passed away peacefully in San Mateo, CA on

July 7, 2016. She loved God, her family, the arts (music and theater) and

entertaining. She is remembered warmly by her friends and family as having a

strong will, good sense of humor, compassion and commitment to empowering

others.

She was one of 10 children of the late Granville and Elouise Tyler

Hamilton. In the early 1940s, Dorothy left her family home in Lake Charles,

LA and moved to Los Angeles, CA where she lived with a family friend.

While in Los Angeles, during WWII, she met her future husband Oliver, who

was then enlisted in the United States Navy. When his ship sailed to San

Francisco, she relocated to San Francisco and lived with her brother James

Hamilton and his family before marrying in 1946. Once married, Dorothy and

Oliver moved to Oakland, where they lived nearly 20 years.

Dorothy took pride in her community and church work. While a

member of Oakland’s Allen Temple Baptist Church, she worked with various

Church Circles and also the National Association for the Advancement of

Colored People (NAACP). During the 1960’s, she co-founded the NAACP

Oakland Youth Group and was also instrumental in creating and administrating

the NAACP Credit Union.

After moving to San Mateo in 1963, she continued working with local

youth and the NAACP and was instrumental in replicating the Credit Union

there. Dorothy and her great-aunt Alice C. Lucas, subsequently partnered in

establishing the Alice C. Lucas Scholarship Fund. The fund awarded annual

scholarships to deserving college-bound high school students. She also worked

with the North Central Neighborhood Association, Pilgrim Baptist Church and

various inter-faith organizations.

Dorothy is survived by her husband Oliver; children Dr. Sia Wesson,

of San Jose; Oliver Wesson, Jr. (Barbara), of San Francisco; Kenneth Wesson

(Victoria), of San Jose and; Raymond Wesson, of San Mateo. Grandchildren:

Oliver Wesson III, of Alameda; Philip Wesson (Luba), of Boston; Aaron

Wesson (Monica), of San Jose; Alisa Okelo-Odongo, of San Francisco; Dr.

Paul Wesson, of Berkeley; Leanne Wesson, of Fremont; Cyrus Wesson, of San

Francisco; Tyler Wesson, of San Jose and; Adam Wesson, of San Jose.

Dorothy also leaves two great-grandchildren, Somaya and Valentina Wesson

of San Jose. Surviving siblings include her brother Moses Hamilton, of

Oakland and sister Miriam Armstrong, of San Francisco. Dorothy was

preceded in death by her parents, eight siblings and grandson, Branden

Wesson.

A private burial service is scheduled for Sacramento Valley National

Cemetery located at 5810 Midway Rd., in Dixon, CA. A Celebration of Life

Memorial Service will also be scheduled.