She was born at home to the late Frank and Irene Gray and made her lifetime home on the Gray farm in East Brainerd. She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Clifford A. Bratcher, brother, Frank Wilburn Gray, sister, Mary Lou Hitchcock and granddaughter, Lynda Leigh Bratcher and great-granddaughter, Jordan Rae Nelson.
Dorothy was a lifetime member at Concord Baptist Church and was a part of the founding family of the church. She served in the nursery for many years and had a passion for teaching children and also led a women’s Sunday School class. She served in the church library for numerous years where she enjoyed the fellowship and friendship of the church members. She was an avid reader, and not only reading her bible daily but read every book before it went on the shelves of the church library. In her Tyner high school years, she was in the Band and Prayer Band, Glee Club, TORCH staff, served as a Treasurer of National Honor Society, Secretary of Senior Class, recipient of the Torch Medal and in her senior year she was a Commencement Speaker as the Class Representative and was named “Most Studious”. Dorothy also loved gardening. People would drive by just to see her flowers in bloom every year.
But what she loved the most was spending time with her family, sharing a meal, and loving on the newest addition to the family. She was the heart and soul of her family. Her legacy of faith and love lives on through her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and future generations.
She was a dedicated follower of the Lord, a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by her sons, Vincent A. (Patsy) Bratcher, C. Burl (Jackie) Bratcher and Neil F. (Karen) Bratcher; daughter, Alice B. Frank; her grandsons are Michael, Jason, Justin and David Bratcher, Greg Nelson and Drew Dickson; her granddaughters are Alicia Middleton, Melissa Frank, Carissa Maples and Cara Bratcher. She is also survived by 21 great-grandchildren; sisters, Charlotte Gray, Joyce Wolfe (Bob), Pat Denmark (Larry); and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. in the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home with the Rev. David King officiating. Interment will follow in Lakewood Memory Gardens, East.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 4, 2024 from 11 am to 1:00 pm at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Concord Baptist Church at 7025 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
Please share your thoughts and memories at: www.ChattanoogaEastBrainerdChapel.com
Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
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