Rita Myers, a community leader and Young Dolph's aunt, has died at 67

A central figure in the late Adolph Thornton Jr.'s life has died.

Rita Myers was the aunt of Thornton, better known as Young Dolph. She passed away on May 11 at 67-years-old, years after a cancer diagnosis.

Thornton often spoke publicly about his relationship with his aunt. In one of the last interviews before being shot to death on Nov. 17, 2021, Thornton visited West Cancer Center to thank the staff for their care of Myers and other relatives.

After Thornton's death, Myers spearheaded the effort to rename a stretch of Dunn Avenue in Castalia Heights after Thornton.

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Myers, who held a master's degree in education, served as the board chair for the Ida Mae foundation. The nonprofit foundation offers social programming and organizes philanthropic efforts such as the annual turkey giveaway or the senior spa day.

The foundation's namesake, Ida Mae, was a community pillar in Castalia Heights. Myers, her daughter, and other family members started the foundation to enhance the quality of life in the Castalia Heights community and two other communities in Chicago.

When Myers spoke at Thornton's memorial service, she evoked her mother's name while speaking of the closeness of her family. She broke down in tears as she explained that, "one very important person is now missing."

"Today I woke up different. I didn't feel the same strength. All I want to say now is, I'm sad, I'm mad, and I want my boy," Myers said at the service in November 2021.

N.J. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of Myers' arrangements. Visitation will be held at noon on May 27, followed by service at 1:00 p.m. Both will be held at the funeral home's location at 12 S. Parkway W., in Memphis.

Myers will be interred at Calvary Cemetery.

Micaela Watts is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal and can be reached at micaela.watts@commercialappeal.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Yound Dolph's aunt and Ida Mae board chair, Rita Myers, dead at 67