Fredrick Norwood Dorminy

Funeral Services for Frederick Norwood Dorminy will be held at 1:30PM Friday, August 19 in the First Methodist Church in Thomasville GA. A memorial service will be held in the chapel of Hughes and Wright Funeral Home in Cordele, GA on Saturday, August 20 at 1:30PM He was born on December 8, 1933 in Palatka, Florida to Dewey Clement Dorminy and Dorothy Edith Carroll Dorminy. He was raised on a small South Georgia farm in Crisp County. Fred graduated from Cordele High School in 1950. He worked at Roobin's Department store during high school and until he joined the Navy in 1951. His stint in the Navy on the aircraft carrier USS Hancock took him to Hong Kong and Japan during the Korean Conflict. Before leaving for overseas he had met the love of his life, June Annelle Harper. When he completed his service, they married in 1956. They both worked in Atlanta for Southern Bell telephone until late in 1957. He then began his pursuit of a college degree using the GI Bill. Fred received his B.A. from Georgia Southern in Biology and began his career in education in 1961 by teaching Biology at Crisp County High School. He taught for several years before changing careers and working for the Singer Book Company, where he traveled and sold textbooks to school systems. That career was short lived as the pull of being with students in the school took over. He continued his education during the summers at Middle Tennessee State where he earned his master's degree in Educational Administration in 1965 when he returned to Crisp County High School as the Assistant Principal under Principal Ray Darley. In 1969, he took over as Headmaster of Crisp Academy in Cordele where he worked until 1972. During this time, he was active in his church, civic and youth activities. He was choir director and administrative board member of the Cordele First United Methodist Church. During these years he was named Star Teacher of Crisp County, organized a swim team, and served on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club.
In 1972, with aspirations of getting his doctorate degree, he moved his family to Athens where he was appointed graduate assistant in the Educational Administration Department with many professors who became mentors to him. In 1975 he moved the family to Washington Georgia to become the Assistant Superintendent of Washington Wilkes schools. He continued to work on his dissertation and was awarded his doctorate in 1978. In 1980 when Marshall Guill retired as school superintendent, Fred ran for the office and won.
In 1986 Dr. Dorminy was hired as superintendent for Thomasville City Schools. While in Thomasville, he worked diligently to provide the teachers, students, and community of Thomasville the best environment possible for education. He was superintendent when the Thomasville Bulldogs won the state championship in 1989, the first State Championship for the city since 1974. He served as president of the Thomasville Kiwanis Club. He was also a member of the Lions Club of Thomasville. He was presented an Outstanding Service Award for outstanding performance on the Southwest Georgia RESA Board of Control where he was Chairman and Vice-Chairman. During this time Fred also received the Presidents Appreciation Award. He retired from education in Thomasville in 1993.
Dr. Dorminy was an accomplished tenor, and sang in church, at weddings, and at funerals as well as any other place that asked him to. He was a devoted Christian and was involved in every church that he belonged to. In Cordele, he was a member of First United Methodist and led the youth choir for many years. In Washington, he was a member of the First United Methodist church and sang in the choir. In Thomasville he was active in the First United Methodist Church and developed a scholarship for graduating seniors.
Fred and June loved traveling. They often went to Biloxi and they made multiple trips to Ireland in search of family history and Irish Pubs. He enjoyed yard work and kept both the lake property on Lake Blackshear and his home yard pristine. He was the consummate tinkerer. Fred always kept himself busy doing odd jobs around the house.
He is preceded in death by his mother, father, sister Dorothy Edith Webb of Miami, and two brothers, Dewey Clement, Jr. (Bo) and Phillip Dorminy of Atlanta. His wife of 64 years, June Harper Dorminy also. He is survived by his children, Suzanne Dorminy Bond (Jeff) of Greenwood SC, Frederick Norwood Dorminy, Jr. (Rick) (Jac)of Satellite Beach, Fla, and James William Dorminy, Sr. (Bill) (Elizabeth) of West Point, GA. His grandchildren, Mitchell Lee Collins (Allison), Sarah Rosemaire Dorminy, Joshua Harper Dorminy (Jaclyn), Rachel Lisbeth Dorminy, James William Dorminy, Jr. and Garner Blake Dorminy. Two Great Grandchildren Jacob Lee Collins, and Cassy Corrine Collins. And many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Wesley Glen ministries of Bibb County 4580 North Mumford Road, Macon, GA 31210