Doris May Wallace was born on Tuesday, November 27, 1923 to McKinley Wallace and Florence (nee Brown) Wallace in New York City, NY. She entered her eternal rest on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. She was 93.

Doris was a curious child and was often scolded for asking “too many questions.” But her inquisitive nature would be her best tool for navigating a world that was hostile to a young girl of mixed race. It was her precocious nature which would spark the interests of those, who at first glance, would scorn young Doris. But when they saw she was a bright child, their scorn generally changed to acceptance of her into their company.

Doris spent many childhood summers in Salisbury, MD with her maternal grandmother, and she loved to share these precious memories with everyone.

Doris became the first African-American woman to work the floor at Saks Fifth Avenue as a sales clerk. After she retired from Saks, she began a second career as a certified nurse’s assistant at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. At Bellevue, she worked in the newborn nursery, caring for and holding the sickly babies who were born addicted to crack. She won many awards from her colleagues at Bellevue for her tireless efforts to care for these children with special needs.

Doris is survived by her nieces Annette Butler, Chyrise Taylor and Yvonne Goodson, and their husbands, Herbert A. Butler, Kevin Taylor and Tomango Goodson; her great nieces, Alexandria Carr, Elizabeth Taylor and Jessica Taylor; her great nephew, Kevin E. Taylor; and her great great nephew, George R. Carr IV.

Services will be private at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rasmussen Funeral Home, Narrowsburg, NY.