Our prayer for the next generation is to gift them with a dual heritage: the grounding of deep-seated roots and the freedom of expansive wings, as the timeless wisdom of a Sudanese proverb so eloquently captures. Dorothy Lee Witherspoon was a force of nature, the epitome of femininity, who bore the world's burdens with unwavering strength. She departed this life and entered the eternal presence of God on Monday, February 19, 2024. A woman of indomitable spirit, born March 27, 1936, to Dan and Minnie Gamble-Witherspoon, Dorothy shattered the glass ceilings of her time with grace and unwavering resolve, setting a new benchmark for love and life. She was reared by John Henry Carraway, Venus Carraway and Mamie Whack-Carraway in Salters, South Carolina. Dorothy's light shone on her late siblings and grandparents, her life a tapestry woven with the threads of their shared memories. Her love and generosity also illuminated the life of her late siblings and grandparents, Laurie Whack, Earnest Whack, Preston Witherspoon, John Witherspoon, Bessie Witherspoon Kelly, and William Edward Carraway, Sr., adopted paternal grandparents, Henry Carraway, and Lena Smith Carraway; adopted maternal grandparents, Mack Reid and Annie Louise Whack Reid.   Her surviving brothers, James, Henry, and Joseph, along with her sister Henrietta, brother-in-law Kenneth, and sisters-in-law, Joan, Annette and Kathy, will carry the echo of her laughter and the brightness of her smile forever in their hearts. Her devotion to God and her community eclipsed mere commitment; it was her life's calling to scatter seeds of kindness and wisdom wherever she went. Isaiah 6:8 was a living scripture for her:  Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" As a devoted believer, renewed in faith and baptism, Dorothy's service in the church was marked by devotion, dedication, and active participation. Her voice graced the choir, her teachings enlightened Sunday school sessions, and her compassionate spirit delivered the Daily Upper Room Devotional to those in need of upliftment. The crossword enthusiast shone brightly, partaking with gusto in her local church's theatrical endeavors and seasonal productions. Her spiritual journey was punctuated with praise at various sanctuaries, including Hickory Grove Freewill Baptist Church, Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, Quntwarica Living Hope Church, Saint Mark AMEZ Church, China Grove AMEZ Church, and First Baptist Missionary Church. She was affectionally known as Mother Dorothy. Beyond her spiritual and communal contributions, Dorothy reveled in travel, the joys of basketball, cherished her walks, and embraced the vigor of workouts at the YMCA. A lifelong seeker of knowledge, she never ceased to pursue educational enrichment. Her garden, a slice of Eden, was where her days were most vibrantly spent. With a gardener's touch and an innate ability to nurture life, she cultivated not just plants, but also farm-to-table meals that graced her family's table, never missing an opportunity to pack treats for the journey ahead as she raised her children. Dorothy was a beacon of timeless virtues, imparting lessons of diligence, integrity, and the significance of serving both God and mankind with excellence. Her career, largely dedicated to caring for others as a certified nursing assistant, was a testament to her boundless compassion. Before her tenure in healthcare, she contributed her skills to Williams Manufactured/Georgia Pacific in Sumter, South Carolina. Her heart intertwined with John Junior Wilson's on March 15, 1958, and together they nurtured a family rich in love and spirit. Their children, Curtis, Bishop Dr. Johnnie, Carolyn, Ulysees "Chico," Otis, the late Charles and baby girl Wilson. along with son-in-law, Horace and the late Glenn John McClendon, were recipients of her boundless love for humanity.