Dorothy Callaway Croom, 95, a resident of Springmoor Retirement Community, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, January 26, 2026.
Dorothy was born on November 29, 1930, in Mountain Park, NC, to the late David Oscar Callaway and Lily Mays Callaway. She grew up on the family farm with a close-knit family.
Dorothy graduated from Mountain Park High School in 1948 and then attended Brevard College for two years before beginning her work career and marrying in 1954. She retired from NC State Government after 20 years of service in 1996. She was a long-time member of the Townsend Sunday School class at Hayes Barton Baptist Church, and when she could no longer attend church, she would watch the service on television.
Dorothy was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She will be remembered for her hospitality, kindness, tremendous work ethic both on the job and at home, her sacrificial love, devotion to family, and her quiet but strong faith in God.
Dorothy loved flowers of all kinds, working in the yard and being outdoors, cooking for family and friends, reading, doing puzzles, eating Char Grill chocolate shakes, but most of all she loved being with her family.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, James Alton Croom; brother, David Martin Callaway; and sister, Mary Ruth Duncan.
Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Carol and her husband Tim Bottoms of Wilmington, Kathy and her husband David Bryan of Apex, and Susan and her husband Mory Read of Raleigh; her sister, Nancy Jane Stancil of Asheville; grandchildren Joshua Read, Jessica Snyder, Megan Bryan, Lily Read and Emma Read; great grandchildren Bentley and Harlow Read, Noah, Aedyn, Gabriel, and Lucy Snyder.
A visitation will be held at Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Friday, February 6, 2026, from 1pm to 2pm with a Celebration of Life Service at 2pm. Interment to follow at Raleigh Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the TV Ministry at Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1800 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27608, or the Springmoor Endowment Fund, 1500 Sawmill Road, Raleigh, NC 27615.
