Dr. Stancil Dodds Douglas

Dr. Stancil Dodds Douglas, 85, of Columbus passed away on Sunday, April 10, 2011. Dodds was born May 26,1925 in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, the second son of the Reverend Edger L. and Lona R. Douglas. Funeral services will be held 1:00 pm, Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary 4071 Macon Road Columbus with Reverend David Howle officiating. Visitation will be from5-7 pm, Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at the funeral home. He was an Eagle Scout by 16 joining his Scout Master Father and older brother who also earned eagle scout. When World War II broke out, Dodds pressed to finish high school early to join the Navy from Roanoke, VA. He used his family trained musical abilities and earned rank as a Sonarman and also sang in the Navy Blue Jacket Choir. After the war Dodds earned a BA degree in Music from Mississippi College. He studied Music and Religious Education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX. He then earned a doctorate of Optometry from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. Dodds practiced Optometry for ten years while also serving as part-time minister of music at various churches. He then gave up Optometry to pursue the calling to full-time church music. He served as music director in various Baptist Churches in Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia. He always enjoyed working with the youth and was particularly fond of the times at Eastlawn Baptist Church in Pascagoula, MS and Hillcrest Baptist Church here in Columbus, GA. While in Georgia Dodds sang with the Civic Choral and the Sons of Jubal. After "retiring" from full-time church music, Dodds worked part-time as an Optician in Columbus and served as music director at several chapels in Ft. Benning for ten years before finally retiring at the age of 80. In addition to his parents, Dodds was preceded in death by his brother, Reverend Mack R. Douglas. Dodds is survivors by his wife of 62 years, Minnie Mae Douglas, a younger sister, Ann (Dudley) Pearce of Winchester, VA. , two sons, Stephen L. (Cindy)Douglas of Santee, SC., David G. (Sandra) Douglas of Columbus, GA., four grandchildren; Amy (Stephen) King , Katherine (Keith) Mason, Adam Douglas and Dodds Douglas and two great-grandchildren, Luke and Benjamin King and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Rev. David Howle and the staff at Cobis and Hospice. Flowers will be accepted, or contributions can be made to Edgewood Youth Missions to be an ongoing remembrance. Condolences and flowers may be offered at www.shcolumbus.com