Delores ‘Deeda’ Nesmith, volunteer, friend

Along with her family, many in the newspaper community are mourning the loss of Delores Nesmith, known as Deeda.

Nesmith, of Tampa, Florida, died July 25.

Nesmith was born in Washington, D.C., and was a loving wife, a dedicated mother and a pillar of the communities where she lived. Through her volunteerism, she enhanced the lives of many working with the community and several organizations in the newspaper industry, including the Metro Production Conference, where she took on essential hosting and organizational duties, aiding and befriending many along the way. 

Nesmith is survived by husband Alvin Nesmith, production manager at the Tampa Bay Times and board member at the Metro Production Conference. They have three children: Telana, Marcell (Celina) and Kenneth (Thareen), and six grandchildren.

To honor Nesmith, her family asks that people make a donation in her name to the Pinellas County chapter of the National Urban League, www.pcul.org.  

The family will be receiving guests to pay respects on Aug. 6 from 6–8 p.m. at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 6802 Silvermill Drive, Tampa (813-814-4444). Memories of Nesmith may be shared at www.blountcurrywest.com.

Funeral services will be held Aug. 7 at 11:00 a.m. at Bible-Based Fellowship Church, 4811 Ehrlich Road, Tampa (813-264-4050), under Pastor Anthony C. White. As a result of the COVID-19 environment, guests will be limited and the church will livestream the service here.

Those who attend any of the services will be required to wear a mask and engage in social distancing. Out of respect for everyone, the family asks that anyone who’s showing any signs of sickness not attend, as the family will be having a memorial service in the future when it is safe to have a large gathering.

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