Herbert Dallis' Obituary
Herbert Dallis, 87, of Chattanooga, TN, passed away at home on March 2, 2025. He was born in Chattanooga, TN, in 1937 to George W. and Georgie B. Dallis, who after giving birth to the 11-pound baby Herbert, remained paralyzed for a week. He attended local public schools and had perfect attendance through junior high. Herbert attended high school for half days, juggling classes and working in his father’s shoe repair shop, Hospital Shoe Service. Working in the shop made studying a challenge. His best grades were in math. He graduated from Howard High School in 1955 and began working at Chattanooga Sausage Company. In 1964, he began working at DuPont, where he made his career over the next 32 years. When he retired in 1996, Herbert had the title of Power House Operator and held the distinction of being the first Black person to work in the DuPont Power House in Chattanooga. During his career at DuPont, he overcame many obstacles and never let people’s assumptions about his abilities due to his race or high school education keep him from achieving success. In the end, he earned the respect of coworkers and made lifelong friends. Herbert was a lifelong member of New Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. There he met his beloved wife of more than 47 years, Brenda. On July 30, 1977, they were married in the house where they spent the majority of their lives sharing love, meals, prayers, and daily conversation. In their home, they raised two daughters, Jameela and Janna. Herbert was a hardworking, loving man and took pride in his ability to provide for his family. At New Mount Carmel, Herbert held several positions including 25 years as the Sunday School Superintendent. He was a respected finance committee member, Trustee, and Deacon. He gave years of his life to service as he visited the sick and ministered to people young and old. He was happy to teach the word of God and help win souls to Jesus Christ. Herbert was a man of faith and stories. Maybe you heard the story about the time he saw a UFO or how in 1966 he nearly died from injuries he sustained in a car accident after he fell asleep at the wheel. Even so, he had a lifelong love of cars. Maybe you heard stories about one of the inventions he made with his brother—a remote that started cars before the days when those were a thing—but they didn’t have enough money for a patent. He tinkered with lawnmowers, bicycles, and many other gadgets, too. Not easily discouraged, and characteristically optimistic, Herbert lived each day as it came. He had a firm handshake, and his smile lit up a room. He had charisma and the gift of finding common ground with just about anyone. He befriended and fed generations of stray cats in his neighborhood and was always ready to lend a helping hand to people in need. He had a deep hearty laugh and a sense of humor—he told dad jokes, deadpan jokes, and Bible jokes. He listened faithfully to Moody Bible Institute radio and enjoyed watching World Wrestling Entertainment until his earthly end. In his younger years, Herbert was a body builder and later practiced martial arts. Throughout his life, he enjoyed moving his body, working in his large yard and on projects in one of his four garages. He changed motor oil, washed cars, and cut grass well into his eighties. Although his life was transformed by cancer, Herbert did things he enjoyed until the end: he attended church, drove to his chiropractor and physical therapist, and ate peanut butter and crackers—until he ran out of energy. Herbert was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, George C. Dallis, Guana Williams, Gertrude Foster, and Ann Eula Taylor. He is survived by his wife, Brenda, his daughters, Jameela Dallis (Durham, NC) and Janna Jones (JaMichael Jones), his sister, Anita Dianne Alston (Columbia, SC), and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Special thanks to his care team at Memorial Hospital and Hearth Hospice who helped make his final days as comfortable as possible. He will lie-in-state on Saturday, March 8, 2025, from 12:30-5:00 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home. Funeral service will be Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at New Mount Carmel Baptist Church with Pastor Walter Lindsey, Sr. as the Eulogist. Burial on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
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