Dorothy Mae Purnell Archer, 88, of Bartlett, TN, died on November 14, 2016 at Methodist Hospice after a brief illness. She was born in Memphis, TN on November 19, 1927 to the late Hope and Eleanor Riley Purnell.
Mrs. Archer was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years Hester Lynn Archer, Jr., daughter Janet Archer Odom and sister Jane Baker. High school sweethearts, Dorothy and Lynn eloped in March 1948 and after a short time at Paris Island, SC, they returned and made their home in Memphis.
A 1946 graduate of Bartlett High School in Bartlett, TN, she attended the University of Tennessee Knoxville and graduated from Memphis State University. She taught at Snowden Elementary and Junior High School in Memphis for 25 years, primarily teaching 7th and 8th grade mathematics. Following her 1989 retirement from Snowden she regularly volunteered. Her volunteerism included serving as a docent for several Memphis Wonders Exhibits and years of service at the Children’s Museum of Memphis and more recently at St. Francis Hospital-Bartlett.
She was an active member of Cordova Presbyterian and a former member of Highland Heights Presbyterian both in Cordova. An Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), her life’s work in the church included teaching Sunday School, involvement in Presbyterian Women (PW), including an Honorary PW Life Membership, knitting for a Prayer Shawl ministry and serving others.
She is survived by her daughter Carol Archer Lovell (Harland) of Bartlett, TN and son-in-law James Odom (Susan Hall) of Plano, TX. She leaves four grandchildren, Rev. Ruth Lovell Bradham (Bo) of Germantown, TN, Christopher Odom (Elizabeth) of San Angelo, TX, Gregory Odom of Dallas, TX and Jamie Odom of Houston, TX. She leaves two great-grandchildren, Cason and Grace Odom of San Angelo. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Corrine Archer Williams of Memphis brother-in-law Darwin Baker (Sunny) of Meridianville, AL and many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at Cordova Presbyterian Church, 1071 N. Sanga Road on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at noon. Visitation will be at Cordova Presbyterian beforehand from 10:30am to noon. She will be buried at Memphis Memory Gardens in a private family graveside service.
The family requests that any memorials be sent to Cordova Presbyterian, Church Health or the Memphis Food Bank. Performing other acts of kindness in her memory are also encouraged.
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