Dorothy Jean Clark Preston

Dorothy Jean Clark Preston passed away January 11, 2016 at Lower Cape Fear Hospice of Wilmington after a brief illness. Born October 23, 1936 to Marshall and Cora Clark, she was the seventh of eight children born. Her storied life began in Pitt County, where she was the only child of 8 to graduate high school, a fact of which she was very proud. Dot, as she was known to family and friends alike, was dynamic. She married at age 20 to W. T. “Bill” Woolard, and had a child, Wanda, and remained married until his death in 1963. Jim Preston met Dot in 1966, six weeks later they were married. In April of this year they would have celebrated 50 years of marriage. Dot and Jim were blessed with three children, Michele, Jay and Sean.

She was hardworking to a fault, loyal to all she cared about, and fearless when it came to protecting her family and friends. An upstanding citizen of Warsaw, NC since 1965, she arrived as a young widow and mother to work for National Spinning. She made her mark first there, and then moved on to become one of the first hired at Warsaw’s Family Dollar, where she became a beloved and familiar face for 27 years.

She cared about her community and the people in it, especially the children. More than once, she bought shoes, coats and clothes for those in need, tucking the tags in her pocket so she could pay for them later. Her hands prepared many meals for others, often after working all day at the store, unloading 200 lbs of freight. She would do any and everything she could to help someone down on their luck. You could always count on Dot, and she was forever putting everyone else above herself.

She loved to laugh, to joke. She enjoyed dancing in the street with the clowns at the Warsaw Veteran’s Day Parade. She lived for a good bargain and for spoiling those she loved. One of her favorite hobbies, besides shopping, was traveling with the Senior Center and Get Away Travels of Rose Hill, and she was blessed to enjoy many trips to such places as New Orleans, Myrtle Beach, Mackinac Island, the Outer Banks, and Niagara Falls. Dot was the epitome of strength—a pillar, not just for her family but for all that knew her. She will be missed immeasurably.

Dot leaves behind a legacy. She is survived by her loving husband of almost 50 years, James “Jim” Preston and granddaughter Brittany, of the home, and her four children, daughter Wanda Woolard Hutchens and husband Richard Hutchens of Rocky Point, NC, daughter Michele Preston Hill and husband Phil Hill, of Warsaw, son Jay Preston and wife Carmen of Jacksonville, and Sean Preston of Warsaw. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Courtney Hill Vial and husband Robert Vial, of Warsaw, Bradley and Johanna Hill, of Raleigh, Madison and Noah Preston, of Warsaw and Emily Register, of Warsaw. Finally, she is lovingly remembered and survived by her great granddaughter, Ava Clark Vial.

She is preceded in death by seven siblings, her parents, and her first husband.

Family will receive friends at the home of her daughter, Michele.

A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, January 16, 2016 at Warsaw Baptist Church (209 East College St. Warsaw, NC 28398) at 2pm. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in her memory to Lower Cape Fear Hospice of Wilmington (1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington NC 28401), where the truly angelic staff treated her as though she were their own family. Donations may also be made to Warsaw Baptist Church.