Dorothy Overton "Dot" Long

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at 11 a.m. in the North Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home with Bros. Maurice Hollingsworth and Ron Hale officiating. Interment will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens.

Visitation with the family will be held on Monday evening, October 6, 2014 from 6-8 p.m. in the North Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home.

Mrs. Long was born in Jackson, TN, on January 1, 1931, the daughter of the late Willie John and Ottie Shelton Overton. She graduated from Jackson High School in 1949 and attended West Tennessee Business College, becoming an accomplished office administrator and bookkeeper. Her most treasured time of employment was the 25 years she spent as the office administrator and secretary to the pastor at Woodland Baptist Church. In her retirement days, and for as long as she was able, she was a substitute teacher for the Jackson-Madison County School System, finding great joy in touching the lives of young people. From the time Mrs. Long was on the cradle roll until her death, she was a faithful member of West Jackson Baptist Church, except for a brief time in her early marriage when she attended Poplar Heights Baptist Church. She loved her church and her church friends immensely.

Mrs. Long was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years and the love of her life, J. Howard Long. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her brothers, Neil Overton and J.W. Overton; her sisters, Mary Larson, Margaret Newbill Bond, and Birdie Hines; and her step-mother, Pearl Overton.

Mrs. Long is survived by two children, Teresa Anne Luna and husband Tony of Jackson, TN; and her son, John Howard Long and wife Penny of Fort Smith, AR. She is also survived by grandchildren, Justin Howard Luna of Nashville, TN, Lauren Allison Luna Hall (Blake) of Jackson, TN, John Derek Long of Jackson, TN, Natalie Blair Long of Fort Smith, AR; a special neice, Linda Clemens of Auburn, AL; great-grandchildren, Dylan Blaine Hall, Blakelyn Jade Hall, Blaze Hutson Hall, and Zander Lucas Denton; and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Long is also survived by close in-laws, Carl and Joyce Long, James Linton, and Nona Faye Long.

Memorials may be made in Dot’s memory to the West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson, TN.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home, 731-427-5555.