Dorothy Wood Dawson, age 94, of Mobile, Alabama, died on Sept. 13, 2016.
Mrs. Dawson was born Jan. 8, 1922 to Florence Browning Wood and William Andrew Wood DDS.
She was married to her husband, Henry Bealle Dawson Jr. until his death in 1980.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, William Andrew Wood Jr.; and her sister, Janice Wood Grayson.
She is survived by her three children, Diane (Billy) Shepherd, Bealle (Pat) Dawson and Mary Ann (Michael) Cole; seven grandchildren, Brent (Emily) Shepherd, Jennifer Shepherd, April (Will) Kahlbau, Becky (Steven) Savarese, Christy (Chris) Kuglar, Scott (Anna) Cole and Lauren (Nate) Henderson; in addition to four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Alice (Terry) Babb; many nieces and nephews.
She was a charter member of Springhill Baptist Church, where she was a member until her death.
She was a longtime member of the Mobile Country Club, where she enjoyed playing golf and swimming, and spent many happy years in the ladies golf association.
She enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of many bridge clubs, where she made lifelong friendships.
She was a lifetime member of the Wimbledon Garden Club and developed a love for flowers and flower arranging. She always had a garden at her home and took such joy in planting new flowers each spring.
She spent 17 years as a volunteer at Mobile Infirmary, where she loved helping families whose loved ones were undergoing outpatient surgery.
She had many friends whom she cared greatly for both at church, at the bridge table, in her neighborhood and through other activities. Being a good friend meant so much to her.
She was valedictorian of Murphy High School for the Class of 1939. After graduating, she worked in her father's dental office, then attended Sophie Newcomb College for one year until World War II began.
She remembers sitting on the steps with a group of girls when they were told that Pearl Harbor was hit by the Japanese. She returned to Mobile and worked at the Army Corps of Engineers until the war ended.
She and Henry married in 1946 and moved to Auburn, where he finished his degree. She was secretary to the dean of business during this time.
Upon returning to Mobile, they started a family and became the loving and supportive mother that she remained for the rest of her long, precious life.
She had a beautiful soprano voice and soloed at various churches and events through her late teens and early twenties. She enjoyed playing the piano and played in her Sunday school department and for her family.
She encouraged her children to find their talents and follow their dreams, as her parents had encouraged her to do.
She loved the Lord with all her heart and it is with great certainty that her family knows that she is with Him now, for a place was prepared for her long ago.
A celebration of life memorial service will be held from Spring Hill Baptist Church, Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at 11 a.m.
The family will receive friends at the church from 10 a.m. until the service time.
The family will have private graveside services in Springhill Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to be directed to Spring Hill Baptist Church Foundation, 2 South McGregor St., Mobile, AL 36608, or a charity of your choosing.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc, 19698 Greeno Road, Fairhope, AL 36532, 251-990-7775.
