Delores Southerland

A service to celebrate the life of Delores Southerland, 87 years of life, is scheduled at 10:30 am on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at Lake Ridge Chapel. Her visitation will be on Friday, January 27^th, 2023 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. She died on Saturday, January 21, 2023. Please view the service broadcasting schedule, floral purchasing, and an area to share stories of Mrs. Southerland with her family on this page.

Delores Southerland was born on November 27, 1935, to Otto and Myrtie Pohlman in Electra, TX. She married Martin Southerland on August 14, 1953, in Electra, TX. She graduated a year later in 1954 from Harrel High School in Harrel, TX.

She and her family eventually moved to Tripoli, Libya in 1969 where Martin worked in the oil fields. Later they moved to the island of Malta where he continued to work in the oil fields. Delores was a dedicated wife and a loving mother to her children. After a couple of years overseas, they moved back to the USA and lived in Iowa Park and Graham Texas before eventually ending up in Lubbock Texas in 1972.

Delores began working for Lubbock Christian College as a telephone switchboard operator, while Martin worked as an Oil Well inspector for the Texas Railroad Commission. They were members at Sunset Church of Christ and over the years, Martin was a deacon and as a couple, they were involved with the India Missionary Committee. Delores also started working managing the meals for funerals held at the church building. She served along with other helpers in preparing and serving food for many families for over 35 years. After her husband passed away she traveled to different countries for a few years and remained a faithful servant of God. She was always a faithful wife, a wonderful mother, and a good friend to many.

Delores is survived by her children, Wayne Southerland and his wife Versia, Sue Norman and her husband Tim, Lori Loya, and Ricky Pohlman (a nephew that lived with the family for a few years), her grandchildren, Seth, Caleb, and Nathan Southerland, Nicholas Norman, and Ashley Cowart and Chad Loya; and her great-grandchildren, Leah, Somer, Hanna, Harlynn, Parker, Blake, Megan, and Kason.

She is preceded in death by her husband Martin, her parents Otto and Myrtie, her sisters Betty, Dorothy, Hilda Marie, and her brother Leroy and her granddaughter Megan Loya.

All donations will go toward Sunset International Bible Institute for the Solar radio devices that take the message of God to foreign lands. Contact Sunset Church of Christ for more information.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Delores Southerland, please visit our Tribute Store.