Mrs. Kathryn Delora Robertson Chapman

Kathryn Delora Robertson Chapman was born on Tuesday, November 29, 1938 in Detroit, Michigan. She was the eldest of three including her two brothers, Melvin and LeRoy Collier born to Elizabeth (Montgomery) and Joseph Collier. Kathryn accepted the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at a young age and was baptized at St. Leo’s Catholic Church. She later joined Gesu Catholic Church where she remained an active parishioner until she moved to Dearborn and later Southfield, Michigan. While at Gesu, Kathryn also served as an extra ordinary minister of Holy Communion – distributing “the Body of Christ” to the families of parishioners at Sunday mass. She looked forward to each Sunday and the opportunity to serve her brothers and sisters in Christ. Kathryn was educated through the Detroit Public School System, graduating from Northwestern High School in 1956. An enthusiastic and proud Varsity cheerleader from sophomore to her senior year, she loved this role and her light shined bright in it. After high school she attended Detroit Business Institute, graduating in June, 1959. Kathryn met and married Charles Robertson, Jr. in 1958. To this union, they were blessed with a son and daughter, Michael Charles Robertson and Nicole Genét Robertson. Kathryn was a very happy and proud mother. She wanted (and provided) only the best when it came to her children, with education being paramount. In fact, there was a period where she worked two positions simultaneously to support her children’s primary and secondary education. She made certain they were involved in numerous activities and exposed them both to travel, art, tennis, ballet and piano lessons. She encouraged learning a foreign language as well, because she knew these experiences would be beneficial to them later in life. She also wanted her children to experience plane and boat rides. She approached parenting with seriousness and purpose and set high standards when it came to their upbringing. Kathryn later met and married Allen Leroy Chapman, Jr. in 1999. Kathryn had a long career as a Pathology Laboratory Clerk in the Pathology Department with Harper Hospital in Detroit, where she retired after 40 years of service – never missing a day of work. Always willing to learn, she even earned her certification as a laboratory technician. Kathryn was blessed with what some would call a “million dollar voice” and was offered and accepted an opportunity to make announcements for the Hospital over their P.A. system. Kathryn was a gifted portrait and landscape artist, sketching people and nature as a hobby. She was a remarkable pianist and a talented seamstress. She imparted these skills to her children, teaching Nicole to sew and providing piano lessons for her, while Michael inherited her gift as an artist. Kathryn also enjoyed reading; romance novels were her favorite. She would start and finish a paperback book in a week before immersing herself with her next tome. Kathryn was always willing and excited to get out. Whether it was travelling with friends and co-workers, regularly exercising at Bally’s or gathering monthly to celebrate birthdays over brunch with her high school classmates, she lived life! She was a foodie and that was a definite attraction for her. She enjoyed cruises to Mexico, the Bahamas (first visit was for her honeymoon), and Hawaii was her favorite destination. She also visited New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, Austin, Texas, New Orleans (twice), and even dinner theatres in Toledo, Ohio. Kathryn was a member of several travel groups, including Ferndale Credit Co-Op Travel Club. Later in life she joined Seniors in Motion (a fitness program geared toward improving the overall functional fitness and well-being of primarily older adults). They also performed on occasion at Chene Park and were featured in the Detroit Free Press and on highlights on their Facebook page. Kathryn loved the celebrity-like vibe. Kathryn loved her fashion and she loved to shop. Going shopping was her version of “hitting the streets” or her being “outside”. Kathryn loved animals. She did not go without a pet – a cat or a dog. She was also willingly and excitedly involved in her son Michael’s love and fostering of his pet reptiles - frogs, turtles and yes, snakes, with no fear or apprehension whatsoever. Kathryn loved the Lord and trusted in him wholeheartedly. She knew to put everything in the hands of the Lord. She would often say, “I don’t worry about anything. How do you think I look so good for my age?!” Kathryn was called home to be with the Lord on Monday, March 24, 2025 at home in Southfield, Michigan, her daugher right by her side, holding her hand. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth and Joseph Collier, her brother, Melvin Collier, and her husband, Allen L. Chapman. She leaves a legacy of love to her son Michael C. Robertson, her daughter, Nicole G. Dooley, a brother, LeRoy Collier, a son-in-law, Anthony Dooley, 8 grandchildren: Avita Maria Ani Heard, Antonio Ingram, Jr. (Jamia), Dominique N. Ingram, Alexis Ani Heard, Arriel Ani Heard (Jerrod), Miaisha (Chibby) McNeal, Dion Dooley, Anthony Dooley II; 15 great grandchildren, 3 nieces, 2 nephews and a host of other relatives and friends who all will cherish and keep her loving spirit in their hearts for eternity.

Mrs. Kathryn Delora Robertson Chapman

November 29, 1938 - March 24, 2025