Services for Dorothy Bell Lewis will be held at Barnetts Creek Baptist Church Friday, April 28, 2023, with visitation at 2:30 PM in the church fellowship hall, and funeral services at 3:30 in the church sanctuary. Graveside services will follow at the church cemetery.
Dorothy Bell Lewis was born on a bright, sunny day June 6, 1925, in Charlotte, NC, the youngest child of the late Monroe and Ethel Bell. She attended grammar school and junior high in Kings Mountain, NC and graduated in 1942 from Central High school, Charlotte, NC. After high school she graduated from Western Union School and served as a teletype operator until the end of WWII.
Dotty served as a volunteer Victory Belle during WWII. It was here that fate stepped in because while serving as a volunteer at the Army Service Club in Charlotte, NC she met the love of her life, young Billy Joe Lewis They met in October of 1943 and by April 27, 1944, they were husband and wife. Billy Joe left in June of 1944 to serve with the US Army in the China Burma India Theater of war. He would not return to his new wife for more than two years.
After Billy Joe returned from the war in 1946, the young couple decided to move to his hometown of Thomasville, GA where she resided until her passing. In 1949 Dorothy gave birth to a son, William Joseph (Bill) Lewis, Jr., and in 1951 her daughter Anne Lewis (Moss) was born. Dotty devoted her life to being the best wife to Billy Joe and raising her two children. As her children grew Dotty supported them in all their many activities.
She was active in the Thomas County Home Demonstration Club serving as Vice President of the state organization, and in 1964 she was honored to be named Young Homemaker of the Year for Thomas County.
After her youngest child left for college, she enrolled in Thomas Technical College and in 1974 obtained a degree in Secretarial Science. She served as bookkeeper for the family business, Lewis Enterprises, from 1974-1997.
Dotty was a life-time member of Barnetts Creek Baptist church. She will be remembered for sending countless cards of encouragement through her beloved Young at Heart Sunday School class. She also had a regular following of young children at church who referred to her with the same loving name used by her grandchildren, 'Mommie Dot.'
Dotty was predeceased by her parents, her husband of more than 74 years, William J. (Billy Joe) Lewis, her in-laws, Joseph F. and Dorothy Lewis, Her only son, Bill Lewis, her sister and brother in-law Louise and George Einhart, her brother Jim Bell, her brothers in-law Phil Jones, Bruce McRae, Logan Lewis, and Robert Thourson, Sisters in-law Opal Lewis, Lurlie McRae, Mary Thourson, and nephew Jack Brown. She is survived by her daughter and son in-law Anne and Larry Moss, Augusta, GA, and her grandson and caregiver Josh Lewis, Thomasville, GA, her other grandchildren Madison and Siobhan Harper, Augusta, GA, Marc and Tzara Harper, North Augusta, SC, Mobley and Ben Brandenburg, Watkinsville, GA, and Daniel and Elizabeth Moss, Athens, GA, seven great grandchildren, Lucas Harper, Laurence Gransbury, Lewis Harper, Henry Harper, Jacob Harper, Abby Brandenburg, and Shelby Brandenburg. Other survivors include her sisters in-law Vilma Bell, Evanston, IL, and Joy Lewis Jones, Dahlonega, GA, nieces, Gail Einhart Hailey (Mehl), Beth Einhart Wall (Hank), Carol Einhart, Constance (Connie) Bell, Regina (Snookie) McRae Brown, Julie Jones Chapman (Mitch), nephews, Ron Bell (Barb), Monty Lewis (Elaine), Jody Lewis (Jayme), Philip Jones (Lynn) Jim McRae (Mandy), and Theodore Thourson. She is also survived by her beloved foster daughter Teresa Weeks Theopolis (Lou) and foster grandchildren Jeff and Casey Weeks, Jenifer Lewis, and loyal best friends Fran and Harold Evans. The family wishes to offer love and thanks to her long-time physician, Dr. Rick Fenlon, her caregivers at Camellia Gardens of Life, and her caregivers with Bethany Hospice, and her church family at Barnetts Creek Baptist Church. Donations in Dorothy's memory may be made to Barnetts Creek Baptist Church, 27 Maddox Road, Ochlocknee, GA 31773 Guests are invited to sign the online register at www.allenfh.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dorothy Lewis, please visit our flower store.
Dorothy Bell Lewis was born on a bright, sunny day June 6, 1925, in Charlotte, NC, the youngest child of the late Monroe and Ethel Bell. She attended grammar school and junior high in Kings Mountain, NC and graduated in 1942 from Central High school, Charlotte, NC. After high school she graduated from Western Union School and served as a teletype operator until the end of WWII.
Dotty served as a volunteer Victory Belle during WWII. It was here that fate stepped in because while serving as a volunteer at the Army Service Club in Charlotte, NC she met the love of her life, young Billy Joe Lewis They met in October of 1943 and by April 27, 1944, they were husband and wife. Billy Joe left in June of 1944 to serve with the US Army in the China Burma India Theater of war. He would not return to his new wife for more than two years.
After Billy Joe returned from the war in 1946, the young couple decided to move to his hometown of Thomasville, GA where she resided until her passing. In 1949 Dorothy gave birth to a son, William Joseph (Bill) Lewis, Jr., and in 1951 her daughter Anne Lewis (Moss) was born. Dotty devoted her life to being the best wife to Billy Joe and raising her two children. As her children grew Dotty supported them in all their many activities.
She was active in the Thomas County Home Demonstration Club serving as Vice President of the state organization, and in 1964 she was honored to be named Young Homemaker of the Year for Thomas County.
After her youngest child left for college, she enrolled in Thomas Technical College and in 1974 obtained a degree in Secretarial Science. She served as bookkeeper for the family business, Lewis Enterprises, from 1974-1997.
Dotty was a life-time member of Barnetts Creek Baptist church. She will be remembered for sending countless cards of encouragement through her beloved Young at Heart Sunday School class. She also had a regular following of young children at church who referred to her with the same loving name used by her grandchildren, 'Mommie Dot.'
Dotty was predeceased by her parents, her husband of more than 74 years, William J. (Billy Joe) Lewis, her in-laws, Joseph F. and Dorothy Lewis, Her only son, Bill Lewis, her sister and brother in-law Louise and George Einhart, her brother Jim Bell, her brothers in-law Phil Jones, Bruce McRae, Logan Lewis, and Robert Thourson, Sisters in-law Opal Lewis, Lurlie McRae, Mary Thourson, and nephew Jack Brown. She is survived by her daughter and son in-law Anne and Larry Moss, Augusta, GA, and her grandson and caregiver Josh Lewis, Thomasville, GA, her other grandchildren Madison and Siobhan Harper, Augusta, GA, Marc and Tzara Harper, North Augusta, SC, Mobley and Ben Brandenburg, Watkinsville, GA, and Daniel and Elizabeth Moss, Athens, GA, seven great grandchildren, Lucas Harper, Laurence Gransbury, Lewis Harper, Henry Harper, Jacob Harper, Abby Brandenburg, and Shelby Brandenburg. Other survivors include her sisters in-law Vilma Bell, Evanston, IL, and Joy Lewis Jones, Dahlonega, GA, nieces, Gail Einhart Hailey (Mehl), Beth Einhart Wall (Hank), Carol Einhart, Constance (Connie) Bell, Regina (Snookie) McRae Brown, Julie Jones Chapman (Mitch), nephews, Ron Bell (Barb), Monty Lewis (Elaine), Jody Lewis (Jayme), Philip Jones (Lynn) Jim McRae (Mandy), and Theodore Thourson. She is also survived by her beloved foster daughter Teresa Weeks Theopolis (Lou) and foster grandchildren Jeff and Casey Weeks, Jenifer Lewis, and loyal best friends Fran and Harold Evans. The family wishes to offer love and thanks to her long-time physician, Dr. Rick Fenlon, her caregivers at Camellia Gardens of Life, and her caregivers with Bethany Hospice, and her church family at Barnetts Creek Baptist Church. Donations in Dorothy's memory may be made to Barnetts Creek Baptist Church, 27 Maddox Road, Ochlocknee, GA 31773 Guests are invited to sign the online register at www.allenfh.com .
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Barnetts Creek Baptist Church
Funeral Service
Barnetts Creek Baptist Church
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors