MRS. DOROTHY DEANE WATERS THOMAS, age 92, of Fayetteville, GA, died Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at her residence.
MRS. DOROTHY DEANE WATERS THOMAS, age 92, of Fayetteville, GA, died Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at her residence.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00PM Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Liberty Baptist Church in Fayetteville, GA, with Pastor James Oney and Rev. Randy Wood officiating. Dorothy was a woman who enjoyed helping others and made the choice to donate her body to science. She will be laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery in Eastman, GA at a later date.
Dorothy was born and raised in Statesboro, GA and later moved to Eastman, GA. She graduated from Eastman High School in 1949 and attended the Atlanta Division of the University of Georgia where she studied child psychology. She later lived in Valdosta, GA for a few years before transferring to Atlanta in 1964 with her family and husband, who was in the military. She was a kindergarten teacher for over fifteen years at Woodland Day Nursey in Jonesboro, GA. She also served on the Juvenile Court Board in Clayton County for many years. She was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Fayetteville, GA and was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who had a dear love for horses, and enjoyed designing hats, working with children, and praying and helping others through “smiling wings prayers”. Dorothy was the daughter of the late Addie Louise Iler Waters and Rufus Waters and was preceded in death her Daughter, Elva Louise “Eve” Thomas Liles, and Sister, Elva Lee Waters Connell.
She is survived by her Daughters – Faith Leana Thomas Allen (Keith) of Fayetteville, GA and Laura Johnson Alderman (Scott) of Coolidge, GA; Son-in-law – Rick Liles of Cross, SC; Grandchildren – Ashley Hutcherson (Thomas “Hutch”), Tara Brake, Ricky Liles, Addie Liles Wilson (Mont), Cailyn Liles, Hunter Wilson, and Laura Kate Wilson; Great-Grandchildren – Mont “The Little Hat Man” Wilson, Lily “Moonbeam” Trumpour, Gracie Wilson, Ava Rose “Rosebud” Trumpour, Eli “Angel Boy” Brake, and Avery Wilson; Sisters – Katherine Waters Varnadoe of Eastman, GA and Gainelle “Gayla” Waters Carter of Valdosta, GA; Brother – Russell Waters (Pam) of Gray, GA; Numerous Nieces and Nephews.
The family may be contacted at the residences of Faith and Keith Allen, 155 Eastfield Court, Fayetteville, GA 30215 or Laura and Scott Alderman, 6050 East Verbena Avenue, Coolidge, GA 31738. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for contributions to St. Laber’s Indian School in Ashland, MT, P.O. Box 216, Ashland, MT 59003.
Locally owned and operated, Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home, has been "A Tradition of Trust" to Eastman, Dodge County and Middle Georgia for over 65 years.