- Date Of Birth: April 18, 1927
- Date Of Death: December 17, 2012
- State: Mississippi
Dorothy Helen Thomas Gunn died peacefully December 17, 2012. Dorothy, known by many as “Dot” was born in Good Hope, MS on April 18, 1927. Upon graduation from Lena High School, Dot worked at Lamar Life Insurance in Jackson, MS until her marriage to James Woodley Gunn of Lena on July 8, 1948. She and Woodley remained residents of Scott and Leake counties throughout their marriage.
An avid gardener, Dorothy enjoyed each season in her yard and garden. She will be remembered for her garden “pass alongs” to friends and family. For a number of years Dot worked as secretary at Scott Central High School and later Lena Elementary School. Dot was a member of Lena Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and enjoyed singing in the choir for many years. She had been a resident of The Beehive in Forest for three years.
Dot was preceded in death by her husband, James Woodley Gunn “Papa Wood”; her parents, James Murry “Pappy” and Velva Sessums “Bubba” Thomas of Lena; brother, Murry Howell Thomas of Ridgeland, MS and grandson, Woodley Franklin Spragins of Little Rock, AR.
She is survived by her beloved three daughters: Brenda Hogue (Harlan) of Tempe, AZ; Kathy Gunn Spragins (Gene) of Marion, AR and Gloria Gunn Rhinewalt (Jeff) of Lena. Surviving grandchildren who loving referred to her as “Mama Dot” are Ian Hogue (Maritza) of Princeton, NJ, Dustin Rhinewalt of Memphis, TN and Mary Gunn Spragins of Tulsa, OK. Dot was “Mama Dot” to most of the Lena community.
Surviving siblings who endeared Dot as “Sista” are Vivian Moss (Billy) of Columbus, MS, Jimmie Garver of New Bern, N.C. and Ollie Kathryn Pace (George) of Nashville, N.C. and sister-in-law Rita Gunn McCann of Monroe, LA. Many nieces and nephews loved coming to “Aunt Dot’s “ house.
The family expresses sincere thanks and gratitude to the staff at Mississippi Care Center in Morton, MS and Southern Care Hospice.
