Mrs. Dorothy Vines Dudley

I, Dorothy Jean Vines Dudley “Jean, DJ” was one of seven children born on February 5, 1943 in Bethel, North Carolina to the late Willie Lee Vines and the late Mary Lee Vines. I attended and graduated from Pitt County Public schools. I’m a graduate of North Carolina Central University with a double major in English and Library Science. I worked as a librarian and English teacher in Robersonville, N.C. for thirty years and was one of the first black teachers to participate in the desegregation of the all-white high school in that school system. I was voted “Teacher of the Year” during my tenure. I became a member of Bethel Freewill Baptist Church at a very young age. I was instrumental in organizing a choir for the First Sunday service which consisted of eleven members. I was an active member in the community and served as a council member for the town of Bethel for many years until my illness prevented my participation. I am predeceased by my brother, Booker T. Vines “Frog”; sister- in- law, Minnie Vines; brothers-in-law, Barney Keys and Simon Speller. I leave to cherish my memories, my loving husband Robert Clinton Dudley of twenty-two years and although we have no children, we have one foster daughter/cousin, Tabby Boyd of Washington, D.C; I was blessed with five step-children, Sandra Brown of Greenville, N.C., Jeanette Whitehead (Lonnie) of Greenville, NC, David Brown (Jeanette) of Bethel, NC, Joycelene Dozier (Norman) of Pinetops, NC. and Lois Little (Raymond) of Bethel, NC; three sisters, Earlene Anders (Earl) of White Plains, MD, Mary C. Keys-Speller of Ayden, NC, Linda Harding (Guy) of Chocowinity, NC; two brothers, George Lee Vines of Ayden, NC and Willie Grimes, Jr. (Young) of Tampa, FL; I bid farewell to one aunt, Alice Grimes; five nieces, Angela, Yvette, Yvonne, Quintina and Lashel; five nephews, Tracy, Barney, Jr., Victor, Tony, Marcus and Torrance; one god-daughter, Chanel; I also leave behind numerous loving great nieces, great nephews and extended relatives and friends. My work here is done; I received an offer from Angels that I could not refuse. Included, was to be reunion with family and friends I had not seen in a long time and to be pain free from Multiple Sclerosis. My new mission takes me to a wonderful place to socialize, garden, read and use my voice to give our Lord Praise and now I will be singing in My Father’s holy choir and walking around heaven all day! For every pain that we must bear, For every burden, every care, There is a reason. For every grief that bears the head, For every teardrop that is shed, There is a reason. For every hurt, for every flight, For every lonely, pain-racked night, There is a reason. But if we trust God as we should It will all work out for the good; For God knows the reason.

Tributes

Mrs. Dorothy Vines Dudley

February 5, 1943 - June 24, 2019