How is it that I never saw your wings when you were here with me?

- Unknown Author

Doreen Thomas of Beverly, Massachusetts, age 60 passed away on June 17th, 2021. Doreen was

born in Boston, Massachusetts to Archie and Lorraine Thomas she grew up in Dorchester along with her

4 sisters. She lived in Everett for 3 years before moving to Salem where she would reside for 21 years

after which she would move to Beverly. She was a graduate of Northeastern University with a degree in

criminal justice after serving our country in the National Guard.

Doreen was always a hard worker trying her talents in many fields from medical assistant to

home health aide and using her degree she even was a police officer in Holbrook, Massachusetts. The

one thing that always stuck with her was her kind and giving heart which, she got from her family. So

when she moved to Salem to settle down with her family, she knew she had a calling to help others so

she decided to do volunteer work. She chose to volunteer initially at St. Joseph's Food pantry and after

working there for years she began to take interest in her own neighborhood and she took it upon herself

using the connections, she had made in the food pantry began what would be her greatest life's work

along with a few adults that wanted to take interest in nurturing young minds she founded The Friends

of the Mary Jane Lee Park and together they all worked to better the lives of those around them. With

Doreen as the center piece for many years she would gather young people and adults alike and

together they would begin to slowly change how things around them were running a summer program

for kids to have a place to go and play safely during the hottest craziest months of the year, organizing

and executing a backpack and school supplies drive for those kids in need, hosting afterschool programs

so kids could get help if they needed it or had a place to go with friends in her own home, organizing a

full scale Christmas toy drive for kids to wake up smiling on Christmas morning and so much more she

became known as a mother to many touching the hearts of thousands, she truly was a bright light in

what many may have called a dark situation. Her heart was so giving no matter peoples circumstances

even going as far as to welcome people to stay in her home when they had nowhere else to go, she truly

leaves a great hole in the Salem community.

She is predeceased by her father Archie Thomas of Texas and her sister Patricia Thomas of

Boston. She leaves behind her son Charles Murrell of Salem and his wife Daneshia Hicks-Mendes als of

Salem, her son William Murrell of Beverly, her mother Lorraine Thomas of Boston, her sister Annette of

Boston, her sister Marcia also of Boston, and her sister Christina of Texas. She leaves behind a very long

list of extended family and close friends she shall be dearly missed.

The visiting hours will take place at Murphy's Funeral home found at 85 federal Street Salem,

Massachusetts, they will be 11am to 2pm on July 10th, 2021. Doreen's family would like to thank all

those who contributed to her services through the gofundme that was established to all the outpouring

emotional support and love Doreen's impact and memory will not be forgotten.