Dora D. Chenault, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and aunt passed away after a short illness on October 11th. She was 86 years old and lived in Chestnut Hill with her daughter Renee Chenault Fattah and son-in-law Chaka Fattah.
Dora was born October 14th, 1936 in Junction City KY, the 4th of 7th children to the union of Willie Jay and Virginia Coulter Taylor (all predeceased). The family moved to Cincinnati, OH, where Dora graduated from Woodward High School and then shortly thereafter married the love of her life, the late Elmer Chenault. Their union produced three children, Renee, Blake (who predeceased her), and Mark.
Like many African American families who were part of the Great Migration from the South, the Chenaults decided to move west in 1961, leaving their home, extended family and friends in Ohio to settle in Littleton, CO where Elmer was recruited by the space industry’s Martin Marietta Company. As one of the first Black families in Littleton, Dora took an active role in her children’s schooling and activities to ensure that no slight or inequality went unaddressed. When she was not attending Girl Scout, Boy Scout, or school board meetings, Dora took advantage of all that Colorado had to offer. She was a talented artist, avid skier, cyclist, hiker, and equestrian.
The Chenaults planned to retire in Colorado, but upon the arrival of their first grandchild, they moved to Philadelphia to start a new chapter in their life, surrounded by their growing family. In her later years, and as she helped to take care of her grandchildren, Dora traveled with her family to the Caribbean, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Egypt, and Senegal. Her most recent visit was to celebrate her 85th birthday with her son at their home in Cabrousse Senegal.
In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, she is survived by her son Mark Chenault (Yvette), her grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. A memorial was held on December 27th at Ivy Hill Cemetery. The family ask that contributions be sent to the La Cocon orphanage in Cabrousse, Senegal. https://lecocondecabrousse.org/don-orphelinat/
