By Staff
Mrs. Doris Lanier Dada, 73, of Hamden, Conn., and Lagos, Nigeria and formerly of Bath, died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at St. Raphael’s Hospital, New Haven, Conn.
A funeral was conducted Nov. 10, 2008, at Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ, New Haven, Conn., with the Rev. Dr. John H. Scott III officiating. Burial followed in Beaverdale Cemetery, New Haven, Conn.
Mrs. Dada was born in Beaufort County on Oct. 11, 1935. She was the daughter of the late Beather Ormond Lanier and Daniel Lanier Sr. She graduated as valedictorian of her class from Beaufort County High School, Pantego. In 1957, she earned a B.A. degree in sociology and a minor in psychology. She did graduate studies at the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology, Oberlin, Ohio. In 1964, she married Dr. Babalola A. Dada, who preceded her in death. Her career was in social work in Wilmington, Del., Cleveland, Ohio, and the Nigerian-American community. While a member of the Nigerian American community, she was the founding member of the American Women’s Club and later served as president. She was the original sponsor for the Sickle Cell Foundation and the IFE-OLUWA working with Sister Theresa. She was also co-founder of the Niger Wives Braille Book Production Center for the Blind and chairwoman of the Nigerian Student scholarship program. She was a member of Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ, New Haven, Conn.
Survivors include one daughter, Abinbola “Abi” Dada, New Haven, Conn.; six brothers, Jack Lanier of Richmond, Va., Daniel Lanier Jr. of Chester, Va., Thomas Lanier of Cleveland, Ohio, Jesse Lanier of Suffield, Conn., Ronald Lanier of Stamford, Conn., and Garrie Moore of Rye, N.Y.; two sisters, Lillian Owens of Carson, Calif., and Barbara E. Lanier of Hamden, Conn.
Arrangements were by Curvin K. Council Funeral Home, 128 Dwight St., New Haven, Conn.
Local arrangements are by Randolph Funeral Home, 219 N. Bonner St., Washington.