Dorothy Warren Callahan

Born Dorothy Dale Johnson on November 15, 1925 in Columbia, Mississippi, she was the daughter of Hugh Richard and Ava Amanda “Mancie” Johnson. She was predeceased by her husband, Wilbur Moore Warren II; her second husband, Leslie Griffin Callahan, Jr.; her son, Wallace Hugh Warren; and her brother, Dr. Hugh Richard Johnson, Jr. She was a member of Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, and formerly of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church, both of Sandy Springs.

Survivors include daughters Amanda Low Warren (Clyde Duensing III), Flowery Branch, Georgia, Patricia Johnson Warren, Atlanta, and daughter-in-law, Robin Ogier Warren, Clarkesville, Georgia; her beautiful sister, Joyce Johnson Moreland, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; her beloved grandchildren, Alexander Warren (Megan), Briana and Chloe Duensing, and Phoebe Warren; one great-grandchild, Michael Warren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

DeDe grew up in a Mississippi small town absorbing gracious Southern manners, richly evident throughout her century-long life of devotion to various social circles. Yet she also cultivated her own delightfully stubborn independence. As a child she spent many hours unseen up an oak tree in her front yard, watching people walk by while savoring pomegranate seeds. During the Depression, she would raid dresser drawers for ties belonging to her Uncle Hugh, who served two terms as Mississippi governor, and hawk them on the courthouse square. While in high school, she loved starring in school plays, baton twirling, and amusing her teammates as a basketball second-stringer. Also, in exchange for piano lessons from her mother, an accomplished musician and church pianist, DeDe’s pastor tutored her in Latin, while chatting about Ghandi and teaching her to waltz.

After high school, DeDe studied at Newcomb College (now part of Tulane University) with a major in music, and according to fellow alumni, a solid minor in jitterbugging. Upon graduation Uncle Hugh threw a gala for her at The Blue Room in New Orleans, where she went on to work at Ochsner School of Medicine and as a social worker. In 1953 she married Captain Wilbur Warren II, a 1950 West Point graduate, and began the life of an army wife, including postings in Bamberg, Germany where Wally and Amanda were born; Charleston, South Carolina where Tricia was born; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and Hawaii. During these many moves she never failed to learn and participate in the local culture, taking classes in Chinese cooking and Japanese flower arranging in Hawaii, for example. She served as a Sunday School teacher, Cub Scout den mother and Great Books discussion leader among many other activities. During this phase of her life, she also became an accomplished golfer.

In 1970 Will retired from the army and the family moved to Sandy Springs, Georgia, where DeDe, glad to settle down, remained in the same house for 54 years. Here she replaced golf with tennis, and pursued volunteer activities with a passion, including serving as a docent at the High Museum of Art, chairperson of the state anti-litter campaign, and numerous church endeavors. She also earned a master’s degree in urban planning from Georgia State University. A period of bereavement followed when her husband Will died in January, 1988. She went on to marry Griff Callahan, and they enjoyed socializing with West Point, Georgia Tech, and Holy Innocents’ clubs, as well as traveling to many regions of the world.

A most important part of DeDe’s life were her many abiding friendships, whether the tennis group, book clubs, bridge clubs, church circles, and neighbors, among others. During her last years, her dedicated and knowledgeable caregivers, Merina Chiwala and Anna Banda, her caring neighbors, talented housekeepers, Clovis and Maria da Penha dos Santos, and her grandson Alex, who showed up for an epic 1001 nights of Scrabble sleepovers, assumed special importance by helping her continue to live at home for as long as possible. Along with Merina and Anna, the staff at Vernon Springs created a lively atmosphere over the last year and a half of her life, and the family wishes to thank Tequila, Cassandra, Zee, Gloria, Wallace, Booker, Ant, Aricela, José, Val, Paula, Zeke, and Delfina, among others, for their charm and support.

Her family celebrates the long life of DeDe Callahan and are thankful for the many people who loved her, looked in on her, and helped her to live a long, meaningful and blessed life.