Dorothy Laree Durham Risher, first child of Terry Olcott Durham and Lenora Lee West Durham, was a true coal miner’s daughter. She was born in Moffat, Alabama, Bibb County. The family moved all around Birmingham and Central Alabama, following the coal industry and active mining camps. Later, the family moved to Mobile (Alabama Village) where she met her future husband, Joseph Allen Risher. Dorothy and Joe lived in the Chickasaw community of Mobile and had two daughters, Nora and Nita. In 1957, they moved to Camden, AR where Joe worked for Woodlands Division of International Paper Company. Dorothy and Joe became very involved in the community in Camden. Dorothy was a devoted wife, mother, homemaker and consummate seamstress. She was also a talented artist and contributed her talent to creating backdrops for First Baptist Church of Camden and Camden Community Theater (under the direction of Susie Watts). After both daughters were grown and married, Dorothy and Joe took the IPCO “tour” back to Mobile, a return to Camden, Georgetown, S.C. and then retired in Mobile, where they enjoyed attendance and fellowship at Springhill Baptist Church. Dot, as many called her, and Joe were avid Crimson Tide fans, even while living deep in Arkansas Razorback territory. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Joseph Allen Risher, and daughter, Lenora Ann Risher Jordan, three brothers Terry Austin Durham, Franklin Delano Durham, and Donald Durham. She leaves behind a daughter, Nita Risher McGlawn (Blane), three grandchildren, Ken Jordan (Magnolia, AR), Joseph McGlawn and husband, Renzo (Atlanta, GA), Nicholas McGlawn and wife, Hilary (Alabaster, AL) and son-in-law, Floyd Jordan, Jr., Magnolia, AR. Special thanks to the staffs at The Cottages in Hoover, AL, Kindred Hospice, and New Beacon/SouthernCare Hospice for the attentive care given. A graveside service will be held at 2 pm on Friday, March 30, 2018. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens, Mobile, AL. beside her beloved Joe Allen. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org), Springhill Baptist Church, Mobile, AL (http://www.shbc.cc/give), or First Baptist Church, Camden, AR (http://www.fbccamden.org/online-giving/).
