Loretta Waynes

Loretta Waynes was born on October 5, 1939, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to the late Fergence Leonard Fleming, Jr. and Toy Wong. Loretta left this earthly life on July 2, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was 84 years old.

When she was five, Loretta and her mother moved to Los Angeles, California. Growing up, Loretta was a fun-loving, kind and giving person who enjoyed being with her best friends, Joanne Fosha and Sandra Andersen. From the time they met, they were inseparable. She attended Ascot Elementary School, Bret Hart Jr. High School, and graduated from Dorsey High School in 1958.

In April of 1953, Loretta married Alexander Teems, Sr., and they celebrated the births of four boys: Alexander Jr., Dennis Sr., David Sr.,and Gregory. Decades later in December of 1980, Loretta married the love of her life, Blaine Waynes, and they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Mia.

Loretta lived her life and greeted others with love and kindness. And it was demonstrated in the way she connected with people. She built a loving family with Blaine, and anyone who came through her door was greeted with her indelible smile, a warm hug, and an amazing plate of food.

She loved cooking, painting, crocheting, traveling and collecting porcelain dolls. One of her trademark dishes: Gumbo. But most importantly, she loved being a wife and mother.

Loretta was preceded in death by her son, Dennis Teems Sr; her mother and father; her brother, Dorsey Allen; and sister, Virginia Ann Cook-Johnson.

She is survived by her husband, Blaine Waynes; children, Alexander Richard Teems Jr. of South Gate, CA; David Teems Sr. of South Gate, CA; Gregory Teems (Valencia) of Paramount, CA; daughter Mia Waynes Gatlin (Kevin) of Talty, TX; Antoinette Burks of McKinney, TX; Rickey Waynes (Loretta) of Mesquite, TX; Michael Waynes (Kris) of Encino, CA; and Sybil Waynes of McKinney, TX. She is also survived by her siblings Robert Thompson (Venise) of Riverside, CA; Thomas Thompson (Cerene) of Los Angeles, CA; Helen Chatman (Foster) of Oswego, IL; Dale V. Fleming (Diana) of Lombard, IL; Ronald L. Graves of Aurora, IL and Leonard N. Fleming of Washington, DC, as well as a host of grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.