Dorthy Marie Champion

Dorthy Marie Champion was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who will be remembered not only for her colorful personality and attitude, but mostly by the seeds of generosity and goodwill she planted during her 52 years on this Earth. On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, Dorthy went to be an angel in heaven looking over her loved ones. She will be forever imprinted on the lives of all who were fortunate enough to have known her.

Dorthy was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 29, 1970. When she was young, she moved with her family to the Columbus/Phenix City area and graduated from Smith Station High School in 1988. After graduation, she worked at Synovous and Total Systems in Columbus, GA for several years. In 1997 Dorthy met the love of her life, Jerry Champion, at Fort Benning, GA and in August of 2000 they were married at the Fort Benning Chapel where their incredible 22-year marriage began. To the outside observer Dorthy and her family lived the “good life”. They had a loving family, professional success, financial security, and all the amenities the “good life” had to offer. What was less observable was the fact that this “good life” was not given, it was earned. It was fought for, it was bled for, it was lovingly labored for every day. At the epicenter of that loving labor was Dorthy as the driving force behind the “good life” she envisioned for her family. Nothing she did was ever done half heartly. One of many examples is how Dorthy fully dedicated herself as the class mom for her children during the early years of their education; she valued education deeply and wanted to ensure that value was deeply imbued in her own children and those of her community. As life progressed, so did her vision for her family. For example, while living in the Washington, DC area, Dorthy started her own Concierge business which she ran for several years before the family moved to McDonough, GA. In McDonough, Dorthy and Jerry started and ran a successful computer consulting company for 7 years. For the last 2 of those 7 years Jerry was in Afghanistan, and Dorthy ran the business and the family household by herself. Then in 2011 the family settled in Waverly Hall, Georgia where she lived out the rest of her life loving, caring for, and nourishing her family. Dorthy was an exceptionally loving, kind, compassionate, and giving woman who was always the glue that held the clan together. She will be remembered not only as a doting wife and a loving mother, but as an incredibly powerful and impactful soul who deeply affected everyone she encountered in this life.

Dorthy’s biggest assets in life were her family, friends, and endless supply of energy and humor. She enjoyed spending time in the mountains, playing a good card game of UNO or Skip-O, listening to music and dancing, or just chilling with a journal to collect her thoughts. Her love for all showed every day in her spirit for life. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Dorthy leaves her loving memory to be cherished by her loving husband Jerry; her very adored children: Melissa Champion, Madison Champion, Brittney Fodor-niece like a daughter, and Jerry (Alyssa) Champion; her son-in-laws Matthew Thomas, Eli Walden, and Tristan Markle; her granddaughter Charlie Champion and grandson Luke Champion.

Dorthy’s family will receive friends at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Rd, Columbus, Georgia 31907 on Thursday evening December 8, 2022 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. A service to celebrate her life will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday December 9, 2022, at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary.

In Lieu of flowers, the Champion family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Humane Society of Harris County www.hsharrisco.org or to Soles 4 Souls at www.soles4souls.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy can be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Champion family.