May Dorothy "Dot" S. Shaw, 93, of Cartersville, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. She was born in Atlanta, Ga. on May 25, 1925 to the late Paul C. Sanderfer and May Rybert Sanderfer.
When Dot was a child, her family moved from Atlanta to Tennessee before settling in Cartersville. She graduated from Cartersville High School as the salutatorian and later from Shorter College with a degree in art. During part of World War II she lived in Marietta and delivered messages for Western Union. In 1948 Dot married Thurmond Shaw of Cartersville and taught English at Cartersville High School until 1955. After starting her family in Cartersville, Dot lived in Chicago and Nashville but mostly in northern Virginia near Washington, D.C. She recently returned from Arlington, Va. to live in Cartersville.
Dot kept her enthusiasm for the visual arts throughout her life. As a teenager she often visited William Gordy’s pottery studio near the family farm to watch him work. She taught high school art classes in the Washington D.C. area in the late 1960's and in Cartersville in the early 1970’s when she and Thurmond returned to their hometown for a few years. She was an accomplished decoupage artist who created and sold many beautiful potichimanie lamps. She loved the view of the National Cathedral from her apartment window.
Dot enjoyed socializing with a wide array of characters from all walks of life and easily made friends as she moved from place to place. She loved children and she was a favorite of family pets. Her home was always a popular destination for family and friends both for lively conversation and good food. For many years “Momma Dot” enjoyed standing by her dining room window and waving to her family as they departed from a visit. Now sadly her family and friends are waving goodbye to her with a wish that she rest in peace. She will be dearly missed.
Dot is survived by her four children: Sandy (Harvey) Howell, Clifford (Janice), Thurmond Edward, Jr. (Elizabeth), and Ralph Jefferson (Linda), by six grandsons: Phillip, Penn and Clay Howell and Thurmond, Jack and Sam Shaw, a great grandson, Grayson Howell, and a nephew: Paul Green (Joan) and a niece: Ellen Lipham (Mark).
Dot was preceded in death by her husband Thurmond, her sister Mary Louise Green, and her two brothers Phillip and Paul Sanderfer.
Visitation will be May 31st from four till seven at Owen Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held on July 8th at the Georgia National Cemetery at 3:00. Family and friends will meet at Owen Funeral home at 2:00 to process to the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Etowah Indian Mounds Association, 813 Indian Mound Rd SE, Cartersville GA 30120 or to the Booth Western Art Museum, 501 N Museum Dr., Cartersville, GA 30120. Donations to the Booth will support the educational programs of the museum.
Please visit www.owenfunerals.com to leave condolences and sign the online register book.
Owen Funeral Home, 12 Collins Dr., Cartersville, GA, is honored to serve the family of May Dorothy "Dot" S. Shaw.
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