Obituary for Dorothy Boyce "Dot" Henley
Dorothy Fae Boyce Henley, 91, passed away at home, with family by her side on August 12, 2021. She was born in South Norfolk to the late Marshall H. and Louise G. E. Plummer Boyce. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Raymond A. Henley, Jr. and her twin sister, Jane B. Hamer.
Grandma Dot, as she liked to be referred to, was a South Norfolk Tiger and a 1948 graduate. She retired from Chesapeake Public Schools in 1995, with 25 years as a first grade teacher. She was a mother to her two girls; then at age 40, began working towards her Master's Degree to become a teacher.
Grandma Dot's love of God was most important. She wanted to make sure every child knew Jesus. She was a member of Southside Baptist Church for 60 plus years. She served as a Sunday school teacher, choir member and Women On Mission ministries. TeamKID was one of her favorite missions; teaching children about the love of Jesus and Bible stories. She worked many years as a Vacation Bible School teacher and later many adults would see her and thank her for being their VBS or Sunday school teacher.
She was active in multiple missions at Southside Baptist Church. Children's church and choir, sewing camps for children and cooking camps for children. Working with the children was her favorite passion. She also loved to sew baby quilts to give away. She would pray over the quilt with each piece she sewed together. She was an exemplary example by her daily prayer life, Bible reading, and walking with the Lord. Her favorite Bible verse, Psalms 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
She is survived by her daughters, Marsha Lankford (Ernie) of Leighton, AL, and Donna Mayes (Bill) of Chesapeake, VA; granddaughters, Jamie Wallace (James) of Florence, AL, and Emily Cooper (Jay) of Tuscumbia, AL.; great-grandson, Brendan Wallace; nieces and great nieces; honorary great-grandsons, Tobias Elkins, Deryck Elkins, Canaan Spitler, and Oliver Spitler.
A visitation will be held at Graham Funeral Home, 1112 Kempsville Rd. Chesapeake, on Monday, August 16, 2021 from 10-11am with a funeral ceremony beginning promptly at 11am. She will be laid to rest in Riverside Memorial Park. Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to view the service if unable to attend and to leave a condolence to the family. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Southside Baptist Church, Chesapeake, VA or Samaritans Purse.
Grandma Dot, as she liked to be referred to, was a South Norfolk Tiger and a 1948 graduate. She retired from Chesapeake Public Schools in 1995, with 25 years as a first grade teacher. She was a mother to her two girls; then at age 40, began working towards her Master's Degree to become a teacher.
Grandma Dot's love of God was most important. She wanted to make sure every child knew Jesus. She was a member of Southside Baptist Church for 60 plus years. She served as a Sunday school teacher, choir member and Women On Mission ministries. TeamKID was one of her favorite missions; teaching children about the love of Jesus and Bible stories. She worked many years as a Vacation Bible School teacher and later many adults would see her and thank her for being their VBS or Sunday school teacher.
She was active in multiple missions at Southside Baptist Church. Children's church and choir, sewing camps for children and cooking camps for children. Working with the children was her favorite passion. She also loved to sew baby quilts to give away. She would pray over the quilt with each piece she sewed together. She was an exemplary example by her daily prayer life, Bible reading, and walking with the Lord. Her favorite Bible verse, Psalms 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
She is survived by her daughters, Marsha Lankford (Ernie) of Leighton, AL, and Donna Mayes (Bill) of Chesapeake, VA; granddaughters, Jamie Wallace (James) of Florence, AL, and Emily Cooper (Jay) of Tuscumbia, AL.; great-grandson, Brendan Wallace; nieces and great nieces; honorary great-grandsons, Tobias Elkins, Deryck Elkins, Canaan Spitler, and Oliver Spitler.
A visitation will be held at Graham Funeral Home, 1112 Kempsville Rd. Chesapeake, on Monday, August 16, 2021 from 10-11am with a funeral ceremony beginning promptly at 11am. She will be laid to rest in Riverside Memorial Park. Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to view the service if unable to attend and to leave a condolence to the family. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Southside Baptist Church, Chesapeake, VA or Samaritans Purse.