Dorothy Hill Bruce

Dorothy Augusta Hill was born January 12, 1924 on Lamar Street in Macon. She was the daughter of Julian Bowman Hill and Ruth Davis Hill. She grew up on Ridge Avenue and attended Alexander IV elementary school. She had many fond memories of growing up in Macon, which included riding horses, doing anything with her father, an extended summer trip to California in 1941 after graduating high school and attending Wesleyan College.

Dorothy met the love of her life in 1942 and was married, November 17, 1943 at First Presbyterian Church. Shortly after their wedding her husband, James Yates Bruce, Jr. finished his flight training and was deployed to the Pacific Theatre as a Naval Aviator in World War II. After the war, they moved to Oklahoma where Jim completed his architectural education and they started their family. With two infant boys, work then took them to St. Petersburg Florida, where they lived for 18 years. Dorothy loved living in St. Pete and made many loving and lifelong friends during that time. She loved being a mother and her children were the center and joy of her life. Work and family responsibilities resulted in a move to Tallahassee and finally back to Macon in the early, 1970’s to care for Dot’s parents in their final years.

Dorothy was a strong and independent woman, steeped in the best traditions and ways of the South. She was a hardworking and courageous as a wife and mother and she instilled these traits in her children and grandchildren. She was rooted and strengthened in her Christian faith, her family and friends. These were the foods that nourished her through the good times and bad times in her life. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and friend to many. She was an “other mother” to countless children, adults and all manner of small creatures, who all needed some help and a little more mothering.

Dot and Jim built their retirement home in the early 1980’s out of six old log cabins on their farm on Zebulon Road. The farm and cabins where a magical and enchanting place for many years to children and adults of any age. This was the happiest time of Dot’s adult life with grandchildren and great grandchildren filling her mind with the excitement of future generations. The farm she so loved and which gave both Dot and Jim such joy over the years would later become Carlyle Place on Zebulon Road, which she moved into in 2011. For the nine years at Carlyle Place Dot continued to help others, make new friends and get to know friends from her childhood in Macon. Dot’s best friend at Carlyle Place was Mae Hawkins. Mae and Dot adopted each other as sisters and enjoyed each others company for many joyful years.

Dorothy is survived by her son, James Blakeley Bruce and his wife Ann Minnick Bruce of Tallahassee; grandson, Julian James Bruce and his wife May Ann Holloway Bruce of Buford, GA; granddaughter, Mary Bruce Tjader and her husband David Thomas Tjader of Chicago; great-grandchildren, Shelby and Serena Tjader and Elaine Bruce; and many loving nieces and nephews.

A private graveside memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 11AM in Riverside Cemetery (North Gate) with the Reverend Jim Shipley officiating. Because of COVID, a celebration of Dot’s life will be scheduled at a later date and will be held at Carlyle Place where she lived for the past nine years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to a charity of your choice.

Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express condolences.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Bass Road, has charge of the arrangements.