Dorothy Dot Louise Lupo Screws

Dorothy Louise Lupo Screws, 90, died December 24, 2010 at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, after a brief illness. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 27 and from 9:00 a.m. - 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 28 at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home on Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 28 in the chapel, with burial in Parkway Memorial Cemetery.

Born November 9, 1920 in Martinsville, Dorothy was the daughter of the late Otha D. and Julia McManus Lupo. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years Bryan Clark Screws and her siblings Frances Brown of Tallulah, Louisiana; Olive Lupo of Wesson; Velma Singleton of Memphis, Tennessee; Faye Slaughter of Jackson; O.D. Lupo, Jr. of Wesson; and Wilna Ruth Perry of Horn Lake.

Dorothy graduated from Hazlehurst High School with fond memories of taking home economics classes and playing basketball. During World War II, she volunteered at the local USO, where she was photographed dancing with one of the soldiers. The picture later appeared on the cover of a national magazine. Shortly afterwards, she met her future husband on a blind date. It was love at first sight for Bryan, who worked for the Illinois Central Railroad. They were married on March 8, 1942 and moved to McComb, where they started their family. Then a few years later, Bryan was transferred to Jackson, where they eventually built a home, after the birth of their third child.

Dorothy was a devoted wife and mother who loved the church, family, flowers, books, music, and entertaining. Although she did some floral arrangements for Kennington’s Department Store and worked a couple of years for the State Library Commission, her priorities were her home and family. In fact, her favorite movie line was from The Wizard of Oz when Judy Garland said, “There’s no place like home!” No matter where she went, Dorothy was always ready to get back home.

Dorothy loved holidays, especially Christmas, and she would decorate the house, inside and out, with wonderful flowers, cedar boughs, handmade decorations, and at least one manger scene. One year she won First Prize in the citywide door decorating contest. She was an active member of the Evergreen Garden Club and the Chimneyville African Violet Club. She also played golf and was a member of the ladies’ golf group at the country club.

Dorothy shared her father’s value of education and turned every family vacation into a mini field trip. She seized every opportunity for her children to have the best learning experiences and became an active member of the Sunnyside Kiddies’ Club, a private preschool program. As a P.T.A. president and Parents’ League officer, she never missed a school play, carnival, field trip, or special program. When their youngest daughter taught elementary school, Dorothy and Bryan attended more school plays and P.T.A. programs, as the proud parents of the teacher. She and Bryan took great pride in the fact that all three of their children graduated from college, with the youngest receiving two advanced degrees.

Always civic-minded, Dorothy was a Civil Defense captain and was certified in First Aid. If anyone ever needed help, she was there to lend a hand. She also did her share of mothers’ marches for the March of Dimes and other charities.

An active member of Calvary Baptist Church for 20+ years, Dorothy sang in the adult choir, directed a children’s choir, taught Sunday School, and helped decorate for banquets and special programs. On Sunday mornings, her family headed to church, always dressed in their Sunday best and on their best behavior. When other families went out to eat every Sunday after church, Dorothy preferred to go home and cook for her family. Years later, she still preferred dining at home over eating in a restaurant.

Dorothy loved to entertain, and she delighted in hosting luncheons, showers, and teas in her home. Everything was always done to perfection, from the table settings and flowers to the food that was served.

When she wasn’t entertaining or working in the yard, Dorothy loved to knit, crochet, cross stitch, and sew for family and friends. From simple kitchen and college dorm curtains to the most elaborate piano recital dresses and prom dresses, she made them all by hand, including costumes for any occasion. In 1966, she made the formal wedding dress, complete with hand beaded Alencon lace, for her oldest daughter. She made a miniature version for her youngest daughter’s Barbie doll, which was used with Ken to decorate the tables of wedding gifts. Then she went on to make Barbie a complete wardrobe.

In 1969, when Bryan was transferred to Chicago with the railroad, Dorothy took a tri- level house in the suburbs and quickly transformed it into a home. While there, Dorothy and Bryan helped build a new Baptist church in Country Club Hills, Illinois. Dorothy helped with a local garden club and grew the most beautiful peonies against the backyard fence. After the youngest child graduated from college, they came back to Northeast Jackson and joined Broadmoor Baptist Church. Dorothy especially enjoyed being a member of the J.O.Y. group, where she and Bryan made many new friends, took trips, and helped decorate for banquets.

In the later years, Dorothy loved having the great grandchildren around and watching them play. She liked watching a good baseball or football game on TV. Mostly, she liked supervising the care of her home and garden, and she tried to help out with everything. She wanted things done right or not at all.

Dorothy is survived by her three children Patsy S. Guynes of Crystal Springs; David L. Clark of Kennesaw, Georgia; and Beverly J. Clark of Jackson. She is also survived by four grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and siblings Edna Earl Klothe of Hurley, New York; Helen Lammons of Lexington; Joyce Erlene Willekens of Hazlehurst; and W. H. Lupo of Fresno, California.

Dorothy’s class and love of flowers were evident everywhere in and around her home, and she tried to pass that on to her children. She will be missed, but we know that she is with Daddy. “Each for the other and both for the Lord.” Memorials may be made to Broadmoor Baptist Church, 1531 Highland Colony Parkway, Madison, MS 39110.