Eloise Ruth Speight Dillard, affectionately known as Grandma Toots, earned her wings on November 30, 2016. Grandma Toots was born on February 28, 1932 in Triadelphia, West Virginia. She was the youngest of six children born to Wisdom S. and Lucy Mae Harper Speight. She met her husband, Wilbert Dillard, in Washington, DC. From this union came 8 children: Kenneth, Barbara, Wilbert, Jennifer, Debra, Delores, Doreen, and David. She was also blessed with a step-daughter, Gwendolyn. She loved, mothered, and mentored hundreds more.

Grandma Toots never met a stranger. Her door and her heart were always open. If you were in need, you always had a place to lay your head, food to eat, an ear to listen, and a whooping if you needed it. Her favorite tool of discipline was known as "Chopping Charlie". She was an expert at cooking, pinochle, double dutch, jack rocks, mothering, and grandmothering. Prior to becoming a mother, she was accepted into a Nursing Program. So it was only natural that she would become such a loving caregiver. Sometimes finding Grandma was very similar to Finding Waldo. You had no idea where she would end up tomorrow. From flying to St. Thomas to take Jen some much needed home cooking, surprising Barbara in Seoul Korea, school events in Miami, graduations in North Carolina and vacation in Hawaii, you never knew where her heart would take her. She truly was a UNIVERSAL MOTHER. It was her undying service to others that inspired Rhea, Sharonda, and many others to reach back and share her knowledge and wisdom.

Grandma Toots was preceded in death by her parents, Wisdom & Lucy Speight; her husband, Wilbert; her siblings, Amy, Julian, Georgia Cain, and Kenneth; her daughter, Delores; grandsons, Kenneth Jr, Charles, and Frederick Booker; and granddaughter, Ami.

She is survived by her sister Theresa; two sisters-in-law, Sarah E. Speight and Hazel Black; two play sister, Georgia Anne Whalery, Dorothy Walker; her children, Kenneth, Barbara (Ron), Wilbert (Deborah), Jennifer, Debra (James Jr), Doreen, David (Agatha), Gwen (Silas), honorary Children, Walter Green and Charlene Booker ; twenty- four grandchildren, Kristen, Kurtis, Rhea, Edward Jr (Aerian), Sharonda (Maceo), Wilbert III (Allison), Lucy, Emily, Amanda, Brooke (Jared), Rita, James III, Chelsea, James Jr (Elli), Breana (Makiyn), Kalli, Janine,Tony (Sandra),Regina (James), Wayne (Tammie),Romenna (DaJaun), Charles and Monica(Kam); thirty great grandchildren, Kenneth III, Aniya, Mariah, Makayla, Jamail, Tajir, Edward, Andrew, Leilah, Donaven, Miya, Makiya, Jaren, Dominique, Eric, LaToya, Antonia, Jewell, Angell, Josiah, Makayla,Marquel,DaJaun Jr., Nina, Naomi, and Jordan, Brittanie, Xavier, Gregory, Morgan; five great great grandchildren, Isaiah, Elias, Collin, Sydney and Ladarius,Jr.; three honorary grandchildren, Stephen and Ashley Green and RJ Banks; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

Service of Remembrance for Eloise Ruth Speight Dillard will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church of God In Christ, 233 Halifax Street Petersburg, Va. 23803 with Evangelist Joan Morton-Boyd, Officiating.

The family will assemble at 11:45 am on the day of the service at 1804 Cornell Avenue Richmond, Va.

Online condolences may be registered at www.jldodsonandsons.com

Professional funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the staff of the J. L. Dodson and Sons Funeral Establishment, 25824 Greensville Avenue, Petersburg, Virginia 23803, Rev. Jeffrey L. Dodson, Sr., Funeral Director, (804) 732-5959 and (804) 834-3330.