Dannetta Rose (Brockenbury) Corsey

Dannetta Rose Brockenbury was born on April 24, 1930, in Bridgeport, Connecticut to the late Arthur and Amanda Brockenbury. Her Father named her Dannetta Rose, because when she was born, he looked at her and said she was pretty as a Rose. She was the sister to five brothers: the lates Junior, Arthur (Tiny), Sonny, Johnny and Peter, all of whom she took care of and helped raise. In 1936, Dannetta and her family relocated to Halifax, Virginia, where she spent her childhood years. She attended public school in South Boston, Virginia. She then relocated to New York, where she attended Washington Heights High School. In 1946, Dannetta met the late Howard Mann, Sr., whom she married shortly thereafter, and from that union she had two children: the late Pamela Mann and Howard Mann, Jr. In Long Beach, New York, in 1955, Dannetta “Danny” met the love of her life, the late John “Johnny” Deale, and from that union they had five children: Jonathan, Kim, Michael, Dannetta, and Laurie Ann. Johnny and Danny (as they addressed each other) and their children initially lived in Jamaica, Queens, New York, before eventually moving their family to a home in Roosevelt, Long Island. Once a year, Danny and Johnny, would vacation in Florida, and she enjoyed fishing, being outdoors and spending time with her children and Johnny. She was employed as the one of the first Black Elevator Operators at Brooks Brothers in New York City. Dannetta also worked as a Salesgirl at A&S Department Store in Hempstead, New York. Over the years, she became a Mary Kay Consultant, a position she was especially fond of as she loved talking about make up and showing others how to use it properly. In her free time, Dannetta loved to cook for her family, and anyone who was fortunate to have tasted her cooking knew her to be an incredible cook. Dannetta studied the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, and in 1969 she dedicated her life to Jehovah God and symbolized it by water baptism at Orchard Beach, Bronx, New York. In the later part of her life, for about 16 years, she spent over 70 hours every month as a volunteer preacher and teacher of the Bible. When she no longer was able to go “door to door”, Dannetta would talk to anyone that came to her home about Jehovah and the hope the Bible holds out for a paradise earth, a New World to come. She remained a faithful servant to Jehovah, preaching about the good news of God’s Kingdom on a daily basis until her last days. In July 1974, she married the late Roy Corsey, Sr., and moved to South Ozone Park, Jamaica, where she continued her faithful service to Jehovah God. Every summer, and almost weekly, or sometimes on a monthly basis, Dannetta would arrange for her family to visit her at her home in South Ozone Park, Queens, for a barbecue, music and dancing. There are no words to express the joy Dannetta felt having her children, grandchildren and friends present at these family gatherings. Dannetta never lost her love for the beach and traveling, and for many years she enjoyed taking cruises and traveling to exotic locations, sometimes with no company other than herself. She was also especially fond of music, dancing, and singing. She had a beautiful singing voice. In her free time, she enjoyed watching old movies on TCM. She loved to laugh. She took great pride in her yard and the various plants and flowers she cared for. Her neighbors would often tell her that her yard was the most beautiful on the block. After Roy Corsey Sr.’s passing on November 6, 2002, Dannetta relocated to Newark, Delaware to be close to her daughter, Dannetta, who shared the same faith as hers. On Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at 91 years old, Dannetta quietly departed this life at Hospice, Christiana Care- Wilmington Campus. She is survived by many loved ones, including but not limited to, her five children – Jonathan Deale of Atlanta, GA, Kim Henry of Jupiter, FL, Michael Deale of Union City, New Jersey, Dannetta Danielson of New Castle, Delaware, and Laurie Ann Deale of Mount Kisco, New York. Grandchildren: Howard Mann, III, Kiani Deale, Devone’ Deale, Jeffrey Baldwin, Esq., Mark C. Buksha, II, Michelle Deale, Matthew Deale, Brooke Deale, Chandra Deale, Ashley C. Peterson, Manuel R. Nino, II, Dana K. Danielson and her great grandchildren, Preston Deale, Winter Deale, Lincoln Deale and many, many nieces and nephews – her very best friend, Dottie Amin and all the friends that she met over the years in the Organization. The family wishes to thank everyone for all their kind words and expressions of sympathy. We especially wish to thank the wonderful and kind caregivers from Delaware Caregivers, the entire Hospice Team at Christiana Care- Wilmington Campus for all the love and kindness they extended toward Dannetta during her final days. Services and interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions towards the Worldwide Preaching Work, that was so very dear and important to Dannetta, can be made at the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, www.JW.Org.

Dannetta Rose (Brockenbury) Corsey

April 24, 1930 - February 16, 2022