Doris Jean Gillette was born November 4, 1942 to Willie James Mitchell and Minnie Lee Brown. Doris passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital on November 14, 2019 to be with her parents and late daughter, Vicki, in Heaven.

Doris was born in Montgomery, Alabama and relocated to Cincinnati at the age of 6 with her parents and youngest brother, Ervin Sr. They were in search of better living, much like many other African ­American families who fled the Jim Crow south. Soon after, the family was also reunited with her oldest brother, Robert Mitchell.

Doris graduated from Robert A. Taft High School in 1960. From there, she started her career at Dolly Madison Bakery and was employed there until they closed down their operation. She then found a great opportunity to join Levi Strauss & Co in Hebron, Kentucky. Up until her retirement from Levi, Doris never let a company sale go by without taking care of her family.

Beyond just her profession, Doris was a great empress of the West End and took pride in her community, family and friends. Doris was a "feisty" street soldier for justice. This showed through her community involvement as the Vice President of South Cumminsville's Community Council and member of the First Baptist Church of Cumminsville. Some of her hobbies included gardening (and bragging about it), thrift store shopping, traveling and frequent trips to the casino (hahaha).

Through her spirit and legacy Doris leaves behind: her son, Alfonso (Chipper) Gillette III; grandson, Alfonso (Fat Kat) Gillette IV; granddaughter, Maya Eubanks; great grandson, Jordan Eubanks; brother, Robert Mitchell (Regina); and her additional siblings who reside in Cleveland.

Doris was preceded in death by her loving parents, Willie and Minnie; as well as her only daughter, Vicki Gillette.

If Doris could tell us all anything, it would be, "baby it ain't where you live but how you live".

Visitation is from 9:00 am until 10:30 am, on  Saturday, November 23, 2019, at the House of Hope, 1829 Elm Street, Cincinnati  (45202).   The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation beginning at 10:30 am.

Interment will follow at Vine Street Hill Cemetery, 3701 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220.

To share a memory of Doris or leave a special message for the Gillette family, please click the "Tribute Wall" tab above and to the right, enter the information, and click "Save Post."

Walker Funeral Home, 2625 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati (45206)  is serving the  Gillette family.  Please call (513) 251-6200 or visit www.WalkerFuneralHome.com for additional information.