Dorothy Morris

                                    Dorothy’s Legacy
     The sweet spirited, compassionate, and humble Dorothy Baker Morris affectionately known as “Dot” was born in Poston, South Carolina on August 17, 1948 to the late George and Lena Baker. She was one of seven children. After a long battle with various illnesses our beloved “Dot” passed away on Friday, March 1, 2024 at the Medical University of South Carolina in Florence, South Carolina.
     Dot spent her childhood and teen years in South Carolina. She graduated from Bethel High School in 1968. After graduation Dorothy and her family relocated to Newark, New Jersey.
In New Jersey, Dorothy met and married Oliver Morris and the two briefly moved to Washington D.C. before returning to Newark to open a grocery store. It was a proud and special moment when the billboard went up bearing her name, “Dottie’s Groceries.”
Dorothy’s warm and kind nature attracted many neighborhood residents to the store. Many came not just for bread or milk. Many came for the light hearted fellowship. Dorothy’s hard work and humble way were embraced by the patrons but it was not enough to keep the store going. The store proved difficult to operate and closed after several years.
      Dot was greatly disappointed in the closing of the store. Her resilience and perseverance in the face of challenging circumstances led her to relocate to Denver, Colorado. On her own she started anew. She purchased an adorable home that sat at the foothills of the beautiful snowy Colorado mountains. She embarked on a new venture as a postal worker as she had in Newark.
In every area of her life “Dot” had a faithful work ethic. Whether she was working in the offices of the postal service in Denver or Newark, her dedication and desire to give her best was the reason she excelled and received numerous awards for her outstanding work and for being an extraordinary employee.
After several years in Denver, Dorothy’s South Carolina roots called her home. She returned and settled in Timmonsville, South Carolina.
       Dorothy’s life was defined by a lifetime of service. Undergirding it all was her deep love and affection for Jesus Christ. Dot’s Christian service began as a young girl at Red Hill Baptist Church where she dedicated her life to Christ. Dorothy continued to prioritize and strengthen her faith with membership at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and joined the willing workers.
         Dorothy’s faith continued to grow stronger and flourished in and out of church. It was no surprise when she shared, God had called her into the ministry. She preached her trial sermon in the fall of 2010 Chaney Grove Baptist Church.

      In Timmonsville, Dot finally retired and spent her days doing for others and cultivating things she loved. When she wasn’t transporting the sick or assisting the elderly with chores, grocery shopping or doctor visits, Dorothy could be found in her garden. Anointed with a golden thumb, she could bring the most feeble plant to life. She loved gardening. She would spend hours working in her yard pouring all the love she had into its success. Her yard was the envy of the entire town.
      When Dot wasn’t toiling the soil of her beautiful yard, she found great pleasure in scrapbooking. She created an extensive scrapbook to honor the first African American president, Barack Obama, that rivals any Smithsonian exhibit. Dot loved making crafts; especially her adorable “Bears in Chairs.”
While relaxing on her couch and adorned in her “green bathing suit,” Dot loved to watch “Shoot ‘em up” westerns or her favorite show “Little House on the Prairie.”
During holidays and special events, Dot’s signature banana pudding and potato salad were always on the request list.
An innate nature lover, Dot enjoyed moments on her back porch watching birds flit about; sometimes she drove to a peaceful lake in Santee to sit in quiet reflection.
         Dorothy’s name means “Gift of God.” For anyone fortunate enough to have known our precious Dorothy she was a woman after God’s own heart. She was a gift to humanity. She was friendly, humble, kind hearted and loving. She was a servant through and through. She was always willing to offer a kind word of encouragement or help in whatever way she could. Even when her health began to fail, in her frailty and weakness she still offered to do what she could.
       Our beloved Dorothy has passed into the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; her physical life on earth has come to an end but, it is the beginning of an eternal and beautiful journey for her.
        Dorothy joins her mother and father, Lena and George, her five siblings: Johnny, Rose, Judy, Evelyn and niece Sharonda in heaven.
       Our beloved Dot leaves to cherish her memory; her eldest and only surviving sister,
Juanita James (Sam) of Florence, South Carolina. An aunt, O’Miller Graves of Norfolk, Virginia. Nieces and Nephew: Romalita “Lisa” Harrison (Stanley) (Reidsville, North Carolina),

 Veronica Cannon (Irvington, New Jersey), Tenise Cannon (Waldorf, Maryland), Michelle Gasque (New Jersey), Sheila Gasque (Newark, New Jersey), Sandra (Irwin) Jackman(Trenton, New Jersey), Rachel Gasque (New Jersey), Lamar Jacobs (Irvington, New Jersey), LeNee Howard (Antwan) and children Cameron and ZaKira (Florence, South Carolina), Dashaun T. Gasque (Andrew) ( Los Angeles, California), Shanara Cannon and son A ‘den (Irvington, New Jersey), Candace Gasque (Newark, New Jersey), Takiyah “Muff”Johnson (Houston Texas),
Alec King (Irvington New Jersey), Erin Amanda Gasque and children Jalan and Steven (Irvington, New Jersey), Yazmyne Emeralde Harrison (Reidsville, North Carolina), Elijah Amiri Cox and his daughter Sage (Washington D.C.), Jillian Taylor Harrison (Reidsville, North Carolina),VJ, Kyle, and Amber of New Jersey and a host of cousins, relatives and friends.
Acknowledgements
The family would like to thank the Medical University of South Carolina and the Hospice Staff for their outstanding and attentive care of our beloved and irreplaceable Dorothy “Dot” Morris.
We also acknowledge with heartfelt appreciation the many thoughtful deeds and comforting expressions of love and concern extended during this time of bereavement.

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