Dorothy "Dottie" (Simmons) Childress

Mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin and friend. How many ways can one describe such a beautiful person. I was her sunshine and she was my moonbeam, and together we were the best of friends. Words will never be enough to describe to tell her how much she was loved and still loved each moment of the day! We gather to celebrate her as we grieve the loss of her. I have so many things to tell her still, so I talk and tell her when I can. I love you mommy, I miss you mommy, I want your warms hands to comfort mine. We will again one day, she will be waiting and I will be ready but until then I turn my face to the sky for she is my sunshine and I will be her moonbeam. I love you mommy and as always, “you saw me first.”

Dottie was a Business Office Manager and Regional Business Office Manager in Long Term Care in Melbourne, Florida for over twenty-five years. She enjoyed reading, Steve Perry (Journey), Bee Gees, Mama Mia and traveling. Especially her cherished times during the sisters annual vacations.

Dottie is the daughter of the late Clarence and Dollie Simmons (Manning). She is predeceased by her grandson, Bryce A. Shreffler. Left to cherish Dottie’s memory is Lynn Childress, her daughter, Jamie L. Shreffler and her husband Joshua W. Shreffler of Gastonia, North Carolina. Missing their grandmother are her granddaughter Kayleigh “Smalls” Shreffler and her grandson Andrew “Drew” Shreffler. Dottie leaves two beautiful sisters to carry her memories to share, Nancy S. McGoldrick of Melbourne, Florida and Cynthia E. Simmons (Bill Nanak) of Cumming, Georgia. Her nephew John McGoldrick (Jennifer) and great nephews Riley and Grayson of Tampa, Florida.

A celebration of Dottie’s life will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Carothers Funeral Home, 2205 Williamsburg Drive, Gastonia, North Carolina. The family will receive friends before the service beginning at 2:00 PM. Reverend Dennis Harper will officiate.

“It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn't go alone, for part of us went with you the day God called you home. “

Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.carothersfuneralhomegastonia.com.

Please in lieu of flowers the family request donations be made in Dottie’s name to the American Lung Association www.lung.org or the Carolina Boxer Rescue www.carolinaboxerrescue.org.

Interment will be held at Florida Memorial Gardens, 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday March 29th, 2022 in Melbourne, Florida.

The staff of Carothers Funeral Home at Gaston Memorial Park is honored to serve the Childress family.