Dale Alston

In Tribute to the Life of Dale Lynn Alston

Dale Lynn, as her mother Dorothy sometimes called her, was born on June 27, 1954 in Valhalla, NY. She was her mother’s oldest child and only daughter. Dale and her brother, Leslie, grew up in a loving, caring, tightly-knit family including several aunts, uncles, cousins and her brother, Leslie, who lived in Raleigh, North Carolina where she visited during the summers of her youth and would return sharing joyful and tender stories of her “vacation” adventures. Later in life, most recently, Dale expressed a desire to move to Raleigh where she planned to enjoy the warmth and comfort of a place near and dear to her soul.

Dale grew up in Parkway Homes, one of the oldest historic African American communities in the Town of Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York. She attended Valhalla Public Schools where lifelong friendships were established in elementary school, continued through high school and throughout her adult life. Dale’s effervescent personality along with her pleasant and engaging approach to everyone generated an endearing circle of many friends and admirers who loved and enjoyed her company. Her life was enriched by close family relationships with her cousins, particularly Myra, Marlene, Ron and Wendell, along with their siblings and other cousins in Yonkers, NY where she relocated after high school and lived for many years.

Dale graduated from Valhalla High School in 1972 and started a career in office management. In the early 1980’s, she worked at United Methodist Church and Global Ministries in Manhattan where she greatly enjoyed the work that she was engaged in. In the 1990’s she worked at Minolta Corporation, also in Manhattan. She continued her career as an Administrative Assistant with Westchester County Health Department until her retirement in 2013. Dale enjoyed her retirement with travel, theater, entertainment, relaxation, reading and sharing special moments with family and friends.

Dale’s life was further enhanced and filled with joy by her only child, daughter Shannon Alston and her grandson Matthew, whom she adored. Dale, aka, “Mema,” to Matthew, was the glow in his grandmother’s eyes. Precious and memorable were her moments with them, both. According to Shannon, “She was my very best friend and confidant. I want to thank her for always loving me and guiding me. I will miss her dearly.”

As her cousin, Myra, whom Dale loved as a big sister, mentor and dear friend, reflects, “Dale was a loyal friend, wonderful cousin and a light in her aunts’ and uncles’ eyes. She shared a very special bond with her mother, one that other daughters in this life could only dream of, just as Dale did with her daughter, Shannon, thus passing down, through the generations, the message of loving our children in a most embracing and caring way. I will cherish my sisterly relationship with Dale for the rest of my life.”

Dale joined the ancestors and went to be with the Lord in Heaven on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. She is lovingly remembered and survived by her daughter, Shannon Alston and grandson, Matthew Davis of White Plains, NY; brother, Leslie Alston; niece, Mashanda Truesdale and nephew Markee Truesdale of Raleigh, North Carolina and a host of cousins from across the country and here in New York as well as lifelong friends who will always hold dear their memories of Dale.

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but snot forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day…For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 4, Verses 8 & 9; 16 & 17.

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ATTENTION: As we continue to phase back into smaller capacity public visitations/services amid the continuing COVID & various health concerns, we need your help in limiting/controlling the number of people, so please govern yourself accordingly for the health & safety of all. Thank you so kindly!

A Visitation/Walk-thru Wake will be held on Thurs. Nov. 2nd from 5:00-7:00PM at Lee's Funeral Home, with limited seating due to COVID & other health considerations, and a MAXIMUM CAPACITY of 80 people at funeral home at any time. Then Funeral will be on Fri. Nov. 3rd at 11:00AM at Calvary Baptist Church. So you may come to the funeral home and/or church to attend, with your masks on. At the very least you can get hand sanitizer & sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen), and WALK-THRU to briefly view her/greet the family. If not at capacity, you will be allowed in to have a seat; but if at capacity by the time you get here, you may be required to leave the premises after signing register book, so as not to be in violation nor cause a health hazard, so please govern yourself accordingly. Regardless of if you're able to enter/be seated, or not, social distancing MUST be maintained (please refrain from touching/hugging/handshaking, preferably just elbow bumping briefly if at all). If instructed, PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY leave the building & premises if at our capacity. PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff and/or church and/or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & any laws and/or policies, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the family of Dale Lynn Alston entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Alston Family during their time of bereavement.

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Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in her honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/not able to sign in person.

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You MUST come to the funeral home wearing a mask, & wear a mask inside the funeral home/social distance as much as possible at all times, as well as follow the rules of the church. You must use hand sanitizer upon entering our funeral home. If you know you have/are under quarantine because of a coronavirus/COVID-19/other respiratory disease; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronavirus/COVID-19/other respiratory disease; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, please do NOT attend any services nor come into our funeral home. Please feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing the family's register book - you are encouraged to please BRING & use your own PEN for signing. Please follow & abide by the rules of our funeral home, the church and cemetery, and directions of the funeral home staff and/or church and/or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions, our policies, & any NYS law, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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You may send flowers, and/or as a lasting tribute you may choose to plant a tree in her name/memory/honor. If you're sending flowers, they may be delivered either on Thurs. Nov. 2nd, 2023 by/before 5:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home, or on Fri. Nov. 3rd by/before 10:30AM to Calvary Baptist Church. The Family Thanks You!