Dorothy Louise Clayton

Visitation for Dorothy Rhodes Clayton, age 89, will be held on July 25th between 11:00 am, and 12:45 p.m. at George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home North. Her graveside service will be held at Ridgecrest Cemetery immediately following at 1:00 pm.

The youngest daughter of Gleathes “Dusty” Rhodes and Emma White Rhodes passed away peacefully on July 22, 2016. She is predeceased by her husband, John Richard Clayton.

She is survived by two daughters, Betsy Heaberg (G. Patrick) and Mary Harris (John A, Jr.), as well as three grandchildren, Elizabeth Clayton Fuller, John A. Harris III, and Elisabeth Dillan Harris.

Dorothy was born in Jackson, TN on New Year’s Eve, 1926. She was raised in Jackson except for several of her teenage years spent in Memphis. She graduated from Jackson High School in 1945 where she excelled in sports of all kinds. In high school, she was captain of the girls basketball team and high scorer her senior year. She was also competitive in golf, tennis, bowling, and volleyball among other sports throughout her life.

After the loss of her husband in 1960, Dorothy went to college and became a Registered Nurse. Most of her tenure was spent as Director of Health Services at Jackson State Community College. At JSCC, she headed its annual health fair, ran blood drives, hosted their annual Diabetes Detection Week as well as other health-related events. She served on the board of directors for the Madison County unit of the American Cancer Society and worked with many other healthcare associations.

She had numerous friendships from her athletic and working years, however, her first priority was family. She stayed very close to her parents, sister, children, and grandchildren throughout her life. She was loving and protective at the same time, always showing warmth and kindness. She loved doting on her grandchildren!

While in Jackson, she was an active member of First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN, 37203 or online at www.alivehospice.org/support-us.