Dorothy Spruill Redford

Dorothy Louise Spruill Redford, born in Columbia, North Carolina, was the youngest daughter of Grady Vernon and Eddie Louise Littlejohn Spruill. There were seven Spruill siblings: Fred, Lenora, Lethia, Grady, Dorothy, Rudolph, and James. Dorothy is survived by her brother Rudolph, daughter Deborah Reid Murphy; grandchildren, Julyen Murphy and Jordan Murphy; and great-grandson, Jamari Murphy. She was also blessed to have an extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Dorothy spent part of her early childhood in Jamaica, Queens with her maternal Uncle Fred and Aunt Dorothy Littlejohn. Her early years in the diverse neighborhood of Queens, shaped a world view that would continue to evolve throughout her life. She returned to Portsmouth, Virginia for junior high school and attended Crestwood High School in Chesapeake, Virginia where she excelled academically. After graduation from high school, Dorothy attended Queens College in New York, but ultimately returned to Portsmouth with her daughter, Deborah. In Portsmouth, she began a career as a social worker, first in Chesapeake, Virginia, and then with the Portsmouth Department of Social Services. It was during this time that Dorothy and Deborah watched Alex Haley’s television mini-series Roots. With the conclusion of the series, Dorothy started spending weekend and evening hours in Virginia and North Carolina genealogical search rooms to uncover her family’s history. Her research revealed a connection to Somerset Place and the 21 enslaved families associated with the site. Dorothy imagined a gathering of their descendants. On August 30, 1986, 2,000 descendants of enslaved laborers and slave holders gathered for the first of two Homecomings. The international coverage of the event led to a book offer by Doubleday Publishers, based in New York City. After the publication of Somerset Homecoming, Redford’s biographical account of her discoveries, Dorothy began a career as site manager with the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. Her first efforts were to write new scripts for Somerset tour guides and later she initiated archeological digs to gather artifacts that illuminated the lives of the enslaved community. On-going consultations with scholars further developed the historical accuracy of the site. Her work resulted in the reconstruction of three buildings, including the first interpreted slave hospital in the United States. Lewis and Judy’s home, built in 1997, was one of the original 23 living quarters for enslaved laborers. Dorothy Redford believed, “Many historic sites unconsciously relegate the contributions of enslaved Blacks to a minor footnote in America’s history, by turning solely to drama, special seasonal programs, films, and publications rather than permanent structures to tell the African American story. “ Redford used every opportunity to advocate for an inclusive approach to historical interpretation. She served on the boards of Monticello and Fort Monroe and received numerous awards including the John Tyler Award for the Humanities, the Congressional Black Associates Carter G. Woodson Award, Portsmouth Notables Award, and she was granted an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from East Carolina University. Dorothy Redford worked at Somerset Place for 20 years, retiring in September of 2008, when Governor Michael Easley proclaimed her a recipient of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. After retiring as a state employee, Dorothy continued to serve as a resource for others interested in African American history, but also found immense joy in volunteering with the local Meals on Wheels initiative.

Dorothy Spruill Redford

August 7, 1943 - September 30, 2023