Miriam Johnson Dorsey

Raleigh, NC - The sudden and tragic death of Miriam Dorsey has left a tremendous gap and a hole in our hearts. She was bright, so full of life, love and compassion with a hint of mischief. Her quick wit and infectious laugh endeared her to all. Miriam was a great advocate for those whose voices were not loud enough. She served God in so many countless ways and leaves behind lives changed because of her kindness.

Born in Raleigh, NC, Miriam was the oldest daughter of the late William Frederick Dorsey and Mabel Johnson Dorsey. She was a graduate of Broughton High School, Peace College and UNC-Chapel Hill. During the summer of 1964, she was one of the first 100 Volunteers for the North Carolina Fund. Miriam was selected to join the Peace Corps and was to be sent to the Marshall Islands. Her Mother, “The Mabel,” decided this was just too remote for her liking. Graduating with a degree in Political Science, Miriam headed to Washington, D.C., instead. She worked as a staff assistant to Congressman Horace Kornegay followed by eight years working with Congressman Richardson Preyer. While in Washington, she became active in the Women’s Rights Movement and served as President of the Capitol Hill Women’s Political Caucus. This group led the fight for equal pay for women workers on the Hill and for better working conditions and coverage under the civil rights legislation for all Capitol Hill employees. The effort that she began in 1975 finally culminated in legislation in 1995, providing protection for Capitol Hill workers under civil rights laws. She served on the National Board of Directors for ERA America; National Women’s Political Caucus; and President of the Wake County Women’s Political Caucus, most recently serving as Parliamentarian. Miriam was active in her Precinct and enjoyed working for the Wake County Board of Elections during elections. Miriam would often be heard asking anyone, “Have you voted? Do you know where your Precinct is?” Better not let her know if you hadn’t voted!

Miriam was appointed by Governor James B. Hunt as Executive Director of the Council on the Status of Women in 1977, where she served for six years and later became a senior advisor to Gov. Hunt. While at the Council, Miriam was the catalyst for major legislation to improve the lives of women in NC, including the first recognition in the law of domestic violence as a crime, provision of the first state funds for battered women’s shelters, modernization of the sexual assault laws, establishment of hospital protocol for collecting evidence from sexual assault victims, establishment of the first displaced homemakers’ centers in NC and various property laws to protect women. She was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Raleigh Women’s Center. Miriam was named Tar Heel of the Week by the News & Observer in 1979. She received numerous awards and recognition for her work with the American Cancer Society, YWCA, United Way and Peace College Alumnae Board.

Miriam served as the Executive Director of Mediation Services of Wake, Inc., before founding MJ Dorsey Communications. She loved learning and took additional course work in Mediation Procedures, Mediating and Facilitating Public Disputes, Divorce and Family Mediation, Training for Non-Attorney Mediators for Mediated Settlement and Trial Court Mediation Training. She ended up with a Master of Arts degree in Conflict Resolution from the McGregor School at Antioch University.

Miriam was a life-long member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh. She was recognized in 2018 with a Presbyterian Women Lifetime Achievement Award. She served on the Community Allocations Committee, Community Service and Outreach Committees, Presbyterian Women’s Coordinating Team, Women’s Circle Co-Representative, Ministry for Racial Equity, Refugee Resettlement Committee, and received the Church Women United Human Rights Award. She was elected a Deacon in 2021. Miriam was devoted to the members of the Ross Bible Study Class and the PW Circle M. She considered these groups her church family.

Miriam is survived by the family she adored and who adored her: her sister, Dr. Sarah Lynn Dorsey Hayes (John); niece Jessica Dorsey Rushing (Chris) and their children Dorsey, Hayes and McCall; nephew Matt Nance, all of Rock Hill, SC; and nephew Tyler Nance of Charleston, SC. Her extended family includes John Hayes IV (Cynthia) and children, John and Thomas; Mary Scott McLaurin (Barnes) and children, Kean, Barnes, Hayes, and Frances; and Frances Parker (Telfair) and children, Telfair and Scottie, all of Charleston.

Let us hold on to the good memories of Miriam. Let her life of advocacy and service to others continue to inspire us even with this overwhelming sense of loss.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection for Miriam will be held on April 6, 2022, at 2pm at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC. The family will receive guests after the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Outreach Missions Committee of White Memorial Presbyterian Church at 1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, NC, 27608.

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.