Dorothy, affectionately known as "Dot" and "Mama Dot", was born in Columbus, Georgia to the late Huey O. Messer and Ellena M. Messer. Her life was a true testament to hard work, family, hospitality, and her deep love of the garden. Dot had a tenacity that very few ever possess. She could work all day long in the flower gardens and never seem to grow tired, and for that, she had one of the most beautiful yards around. There's nothing she couldn't grow, literally nothing. It was always amazing to walk around her home and see all of her beautiful irises, daylilies, bleeding hearts, dogwoods, azaleas, and begonias. She could grow huge hydrangeas with the most brilliant shades of pink, purple, and blue. She could get rhododendrons to thrive in a region where they typically fail. Even her vegetable garden produced the most delicious fresh vegetables around.
Summers with Dorothy created fond memories of canning pickles and fig preserves, shelling peas, eating muscadines fresh off the vine, and walking through fields of thousands of the most beautiful daylilies you've ever seen. Dot also loved Christmas. Her beloved husband (Murray) helped her decorate their home like a Christmas wonderland for all her family to enjoy and the food she prepared was nothing short of a feast. She loved to cook for others and will be forever remembered for her cakes, homemade candies, and all of her homemade recipes. Her recipes can still be found today in several local cookbook publications.
Dot loved her community and was a long time member of the Cataula Women's Club, where she served as President from 2002 to 2004. She was also a member of the Sack Club and the Chattahoochee Valley Daylily Society, where she entered her award-winning daylilies in several competitions. She volunteered whole heartedly at Callaway Gardens. She was not only an amazing homemaker, but an ambitious professional. She was one of the first female claims adjusters in our region and later in her career, opened her own business, Columbus Claims Service, which was located off Macon Rd. She also was an active member of the Columbus Claims Association for many years.
Dot was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She was a Christian, a hard working mother, and always a lady. She will be deeply missed by so many.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Murray C. Meadows; daughter, Cheryl Sorrells; brothers and sisters, Otis Messer, Jean Lund, and Clara Brasington; and her great grandson, David Chase Pulsifer. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah M. Hindsman; son-in-law David Sorrells; five grandchildren, Brian Sorrells, Cindy Smith (Stan), Todd Sorrells (Tammy), Will Hindsman, Elicia Maholick (Dr. James T. Maholick); as well as several great and great-great grandchildren.
A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 2:00PM in the Edgewood Hall of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Rd, Columbus, GA 31907, with Rev. Mike Reeves officiating. A Visitation for Family and Friends of Dorothy will be held one hour prior to the service. A catered meal will be served in the Mill Room of Striffler- Hamby after the burial at Parkhill Cemetery, 4161 Macon Rd, Columbus, GA 31907.
