Junior (JR) Lee Doughty

Junior (JR) Doughty Obituary THE SERVICE WILL BE LIVESTREAMED. PLEASE CLICK ON THE CAMERA BELOW. Junior Lee Doughty was born on June 18, 1936, in Northport, Alabama to the late John Lee Doughty and Alice Doughty. He and his family moved to Raleigh, North Carolina where he attended the North Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio, as a teenager and spent most of his adult life in Cleveland Heights. In 1962, he married Rosa Mae (Hunt) Doughty (deceased). They were divorced in 1970. They had 2 children, Louis and Cathleen Doughty of LA, California. His sister, Trudy Hightower of Chicago, IL, preceded him in death. In his younger years, JR worked at a clothing factory. For sixteen years, JR was a custodian for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Library System. He had a wonderful relationship with its directors, Rachel Nelson, Steven Woods and Nancy Levin, as well as with his supervisor Shoney Long and employee Anne Salipante. Partly because of his commitment to the library and community, a residents’ committee established the Coventry Branch as a center continuing to provide programming, resources, and events to the Deaf community. JR was a favorite customer at many of the Cleveland Heights restaurants and businesses, and a long-time friend of Tommy Fello of Tommy’s Restaurant. During his sometimes daily visits there, he taught some of the servers basic sign language and also ASL classes at the library. He was featured in a Plain Dealer article, describing his honorary, unofficial title of “Mayor of Coventry”. Often, JR would be seen waving to his neighbors as he walked the streets to and from his home at The Musicians’ Tower in his later years. Junior liked to play checkers, connect four and watch his favorite sports on TV. He enjoyed sitting outside on the bench and looking around at nature, trees and people. JR is also fondly remembered for his participation as an actor for the Fairmount Theatre of the Deaf, which was previously housed at the Coventry Branch Library. He starred in the main role of the play, “Dummy” by Lowell J. Meyers who championed the rights of deaf persons and the case about Donald Lang, a Black deaf Chicago man accused of murder. Mr. Doughty was also a member of the Cleveland Baptist Church for forty years and participated in the sign choir. He was also a member of the National Black Deaf Advocates, Cleveland Chapter 2, attending many conferences, picnics and social events. JR’s friends will especially miss his entertaining them with his beautifully descriptive ASL stories and teasing!! He enjoyed a special friendship with Susan Blackburn (deceased) for several years, and his family is grateful for the assistance given by Ms. Leytonia Curtis and Jan Giles during his final years as his health declined. Junior is survived by his children Cathleen Doughty, Louis Doughty; grandson Ronnie Doughty; great grandsons Dallas and Dayton Doughty; host of many friends. A devout Christian, Mr. Doughty went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 17, 2024. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Junior (JR) Lee Doughty, please visit our floral store. Read More ? Service Program Click to download / open

Junior (JR) Lee Doughty

June 18, 1936 - March 17, 2024