Dorothy Anne Smith

Dorothy Anne Smith, age 97, made her entry into a spectacular reunion on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. She was a child of the Depression and World War II, born and raised in Atlanta, and was the most delightful among us. Dottie Anne was an impish child, baby of the family, and favorite of her “Papadoodle.” She grew into a vivacious and remarkable woman who was always the life of the party.

From creating and performing in her first Roosevelt ball to combat polio, teaching high school, providing help to grateful Georgia Power customers, producing charity fashion shows, to her most recent visits with family and friends, Dottie Anne was a woman of deep faith who always saw the beauty inside someone and showed us each how to care for others.

Living her life’s principle of caring for children and helping others began at a very early age when, at the precocious age of five, she founded, emceed, and performed in annual Roosevelt Ball shows to raise money for polio research. Although she often laughed that she mainly did this because she wanted to be able to swim in the neighborhood pool, those who knew her recognize that this and all of her later fundraising arose from a deep kindness of heart. As a very young teen, she was already teaching youngsters to swim, and by college she had started producing fashion shows for children and teens. She toured South Carolina doing Little Jack puppet shows to help children improve their dental health.

Dottie Anne's lifelong focus was always to make life better for children. Working tirelessly to influence local and national legislators, she encouraged other adults to do the same. Her unwavering faith and love of children combined in teaching Sunday school and playing the piano in the children's chapel as they learned simple hymns. Her love of theatricality was on display as she organized the annual Christmas pageant, including over a hundred children and one live donkey, in the Cathedral of St. Philip. She taught high school at North Fulton, advising the state championship award-winning Scribbler high school newspaper, ever demurring that her students did all the work and taught her whatever she knew.

Her fashion career was legendary, lasting decades. Her models for fashion shows, often young or older people whom she first approached in a grocery store or on the street, were gracious and real in their praise of her. She not only helped each one look gorgeous but also helped them realize their own beauty.

But most will remember Dottie Anne for her absolute and complete love and support of her daughter, Angela. There was never doubt that "Mother's precious little heart pie love" was the center of Dottie Anne’s universe, and their relationship was the most enviable of mother-daughter pairs. Dottie Anne poured herself into Angela’s successes, ensuring her daughter learned to love God and helped her develop her potential in academics and sports.

Her extended family adored her as a person and then as the family matriarch. Neighborhood children flocked to her and considered her a second mother or grandmother. While she was loved for her famous fried chicken and biscuits, her real mark on everyone was making each person feel like the most important person to her at that moment. She entertained delightfully, even performing her infamous recitation of "The Swallow" to the delight of all at major family functions!

Dottie Anne’s heart was at “her beach” of St. Simons and special services at Christ Church. She will be remembered as a charismatic, unique, and kind golden light.