Dorothy White Fielden Graves was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, on January 20, 1930, the youngest child of Harry Lafayette Fielden, Sr., and Ruby Faye Acklin. Dorothy graduated from St. Petersburg High School and was employed as a secretary to the director of nursing services at Mound Park Hospital in St. Petersburg, before attending Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. There she met Howard Ray Graves to whom she was married for 69 years. Together they raised three children.
Dorothy was a highly valued legal secretary for most of her career, culminating in her service to the First District Court of Appeals under the Honorable Judge Douglass B. Shivers in Tallahassee, Florida, from 1979 until her retirement in 1992. Following their relocation to St. Petersburg, Dorothy was a member of the First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, where she faithfully supported her husband Ray in his ministry as pastor to senior adults. An exceptional vocalist, she also sang in the church choir for many years. The Graveses moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 2016, where they were active members of Southside Baptist Church as long as health permitted. In her later years, Dorothy became an avid reader, Blue Bloods fan, squirrel chaser, and story teller.
Dorothy died peacefully at home at the age of 91 on the morning of December 26, 2021. She will be deeply missed by family, friends, and all who knew her.
Dorothy is survived by her devoted husband, Rev. Howard Ray Graves; daughter, Cynthia Faye Graves; sons and son-in-law, Stephen Ray Graves, David Fielden Graves-Losito, and Jeffrey Anthony Losito; granddaughters Christina Lynn Graves and Lydia Laranda Lingerfelt; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Ruby Fielden; sisters, Ruby Gene Fielden, Grace Fletcher, and Arlonia Carbone; and brothers, Harry “Bud” Fielden, Jr., James Fielden, and Kenneth Fielden.
A celebration of Dorothy’s life is scheduled for Thursday, January 6, at 2:00 p.m., at Southside Baptist/Aspire Church in Jacksonville, Florida, with Dr. Gary Lee Webber officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Southside Baptist Church, 1435 Atlantic Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32207.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” (Proverbs 31:28-29)
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.6