Sadye Elizabeth Dunn Doxie

Sadye Elizabeth Dunn Doxie passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November, 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones and the conviction of a life well-lived. Born in Bladenboro, North Carolina, on March 18, 1937, she had lived in Washington, DC, for more than fifty years. A gifted athlete and natural leader, she served as both Class President and Student Government President at Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (now UNC Greensboro), where she majored in physical education. During her senior year in 1956-57, when the college began the process of integration, Sadye's quiet courage made a difference on campus in that turbulent moment. After earning a master's degree in business from Harvard University/Radcliffe, Sadye returned to her alma mater to serve as Dean of Admissions, then Dean of Students, and eventually Dean of the College. In later years, she served on the UNC Greensboro Alumni Association Board, and established the Sadye Dunn Doxie Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Award, which supports undergraduate interdisciplinary research conducted by highly motivated students in any department of the School of Health and Human Sciences. She also was selected for inclusion in a listing of the Outstanding Young Women of America.

In the mid-1960s, Sadye joined the federal government where until her retirement she worked for the betterment of humanity, including serving as director of the office of Volunteer Information Services for VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), field coordinator and special assistant for domestic volunteer programs for ACTION, and culminating as Secretary of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Her work at the CPSC helped lead to the creation of life-saving safety standards for thousands of consumer products, including cribs, car seats, packaging and hazardous substances.

Sadye married her beloved husband, Melvin Lander Doxie, on February 18, 1978, just eleven years after the Supreme Court struck down state laws banning interracial marriage. Prior to Mel’s death in 2024, they enjoyed 46 loving years filled with community service, international travel, trips to the beach with family, reading, conversation, an appreciation for good food and a shared faith. Both Sadye and Mel were active and involved members of First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, DC, with Sadye serving as deacon, church moderator, archivist and member of the Tapestry Bible study class.

In addition to her husband, Sadye was predeceased by her parents, Ruby Council Dunn and Charles Henry Dunn, and her deeply loved and dearly missed sister, Barbara Fletcher Dunn Jackson. She is survived by Barbara’s children, Frank Jackson (Amy), Tommy Jackson (Jackie), and Susan Jackson Cooke (Dick) and their families, Alison Cooke, Ruby Jackson, Lindsay Cooke, Cole Jackson, John Henry Jackson, Erin Cooke, Fletcher Jackson, Cooper Jackson and Lincoln Jackson, and Mel’s brother, Marvin Doxie, and his children, Monica Doxie and Marvin Doxie, Jr.

A celebration of Sadye’s life will be held on Monday, December 22, at 2:00 p.m. at The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C. (1328 16th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20036) followed by a reception in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Colby's Crew Horse Rescue, P.O. Box 6992, Charlottesville, VA 22906 (https://colbyscrewrescue.org/donate) or The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, DC, 1328 16th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20036 (https://www.firstbaptistdc.org/give ).