She was a teacher, the noblest of arts. She married two good men, Sparky and Robbie. She bore three offspring:
Cynthia—kindness, wisdom, and love
Larry—a physician and eccentric
Devereaux—a builder, good husband, and good father
Her mother, Missouri Belle Sewell, died when Dottis was a young girl. She was raised as a sister to her cousin, Jane Self Burnam. Her God given parents were teachers, Uncle Rubin and Aunt Jane Self. “They gave advantages.” The greatest advantage any of her family has ever known is her. She was a light that shown so we could see ourselves and could be ourselves. “Be thankful that it is God that has made us and not we ourselves.” She was a teacher for over 35 years—started in Jacksonville, Alabama, then taught at St. John’s Episcopal Church Elementary School, then Bellingrath Elementary and Davis Elementary. After retiring in 1982 she began at Maxwell Air Force Base, teaching English to the Wives of Foreign Officers.
Teachers live a long time, she was 92 plus. Teachers have students also called pupils—the pupil is part of the eye which is open to let in light—to enlighten and see. Thus, Teachers cast light upon the pupil, the light enters and seeing starts then goes on and on and on. “Blessed are the Pure in Heart—For They Shall See God” Thanks Be To God, Amen.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Henry Sewell and Missouri Belle Sewell; and siblings, Frazer Sewell, Doris Flesass, and Betty Jo Greene.
She is survived by her children, Cynthia Williams Hill; Dr. Lawrence Thomas Williams, and Devereaux Lee Williams (Jeannine); step children, Jerry, Rusty, Larry, and Sandy; grandchildren, Shannon Setzer, Charis Lewis, Devereaux Lee Williams Jr. (Emily), James Alexander Hill (Ashley), Richard Lawrence Williams (Lindsay), Lea Williams (J.D.), Graham Williams, and Lyra Stephens; and great grandchildren, Chloe Setzer, Caleb and Ethan Lewis, Sewell Stephens, Aslynn, Kaylynn, and Dakota Hill, and Ansley Grace Stewart. One great grandchild, Fisher Setzer, also preceded her in passing.
A Visitation will be held at 1:00pm on Sunday, January 6, 2019 at St. John’s Episcopal Church with a Burial Service at 2:00, Internment of Ashes to follow in the Columbarium at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
The family would like to extend special thanks to caregivers, Red, Nikita, Brenda, Tabitha, Michelle, Shannon, and Karen.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John’ s Episcopal Church or any Autism Foundation.
