Dorothy Ramsey Whittemore

And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me.

Our loving Mother, Dorothy Ramsey Whittemore, 93, of Gadsden, Alabama and longtime resident of Rainbow City passed away Thursday, May 26, 2022. Funeral services will be conducted by Collier Butler on Friday, June 3, 2022. Visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m. and the service from 11:00-12:00 p.m. Dr. Chris Terrell, Mother’s pastor from White Springs and the Reverend Tommy Marshall from The Tabernacle will officiate. Burial will be in Rainbow Memorial Gardens.

Mother left us with many wonderful memories and teachings. She was a faithful believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. She was a lifelong member of White Springs Baptist Church. She cherished her family; she loved to cook, and if you were at her house at mealtime, you were expected to sit and share the meal. Momma truly loved us beyond all measure. She was a wonderful wife, mother, Mamaw, daughter, and sister. As kids, we watched mother give her time and talents taking care of her parents. We saw Mother sacrifice for us and others. Her greatest attribute was to leave us with a heritage of love, integrity, and hard work. Her motto was do what is right and tell the truth. She taught us to be faithful and loyal no matter the situation; you stay the course.

Her career took on varied interests. Mother was a very creative individual with an eye for detail. Early in life she began work as a seamstress for Grider Chair Company, and later, she and Dad began their own furniture manufacturing business. She also worked for a short period of time with special needs adults at the Smeltzer Center, she was a bus driver for Etowah County Schools, and worked as an Aide at the Etowah County Alternative School. Her life was a testimony of love, compassion, and guidance for those in need. Her former students sometimes say to me, “Aren’t you Mrs. Whittemore’s daughter; I love your mother; she was so good to me during a difficult time in my life.”

Mother loved life and believed hard work sustained her. As a result, she retired at seventy-nine from the Etowah County School System. After retirement, she lovingly took care of Dad until his death in December 2011. She also had a very special gift as a gardener. She had two green thumbs as evidenced by the vegetables and flowers she grew. She loved to grow vegetables, pick them, cook them and can them. I believe she loved growing things as she could see God at work completing and multiplying her good work. She could see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Mother was a very shy girl and would say, “I’m just a country girl,” but Mom was so much more than she gave herself credit; she was truly blessed and highly favored of the Lord Jesus Christ; she was a rock for all of our family all the days of her life. Mom was a true gift from God for us. It was a blessing to call her mother.

Ms. Whittemore is preceded in death by her husband of sixty-four years, Homer Adolph Whittemore, Scooter, her beloved pet, parents George and Parry Ramsey, sisters, Gladys Roberts, Lois King, Eunice Howard, Marie Usrey, Audrey Baranick and brothers, Ross and Autry (Budd) Ramsey.

She is survived by her children, Charles W. Whittemore (Donna), Timothy C. Whittemore (Anita), and Jackie Campbell (Bill) and grandchildren Patti Lee (Anthony), Mandi Acker (Andrew), Charles Whittemore, Jr. (Jovelyn), Craig Whittemore, Deyna Williams (Josh), Derrick Whittemore, Kimberly Lorren (Jeremy), Josh Campbell (Kristen), and Emily Smith (Jeffrey). She has 18 great grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her loving baby sister, Martha Noah, sister-in-law, Ann Ramsey and a number of nieces and nephews. Her Grandsons will be pallbearers.

Special thanks are extended to White Springs Home Bound Ministry, Dr. Sledge, her doctor of many years, nurses and staff of Gadsden Health Care, Pro-Health Hospice, and Mountain Cove Assisted Living. Flowers will be accepted, or preferred memorials may be made to White Spring’s Home Bound Ministry or Macedonia Baptist Church Food Pantry.