Dorothy Foard Perry

A celebration of the life of Dorothy Foard Perry will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 12, 2024 at Centennial ARP Church, 1413 Laurel Street, Columbia SC, with burial following the service in Bush River Memorial Gardens. The family will receive family and friends from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the church.

Mrs. Perry went to heaven to be with her husband, Walter Plowden Perry, married for 62 years, who passed in 2013. Mrs. Perry passed on Saturday, October 5, 2024. Born in Indian Trail, NC, she was a daughter of the late Al Burtis Foard and Aline Yandle Foard.

Life brought her and her husband from the Charlotte NC area to Columbia SC. A graduate of Thomasboro High School in 1944, she worked for many years as an Administrative Assistant at a Manufacturing company in Sumter South Carolina where she, her husband and two children moved in 1968. She excelled in her work and in 1974, Dorothy was selected as Secretary of the Year for the state of South Carolina by the National Secretary Association, NSA.

Music was a very important part of her life. From her youth playing not only piano, violin and other instruments, she would tell stories of her and her brothers Erskine and Zeke Foard enjoying playing music together. As the years progressed, Dorothy shared her love for music by singing in the choir at many ARP Churches in various capacities in Columbia and Sumter SC. While in Sumter SC, she served as the Choir Director for Faith ARP Church for many years and directed also the Christmas programs, youth choirs and worked with the Women of the Church.

Upon returning to Columbia South Carolina in later years, she was active in the Handbell Choir at Centennial ARP Church and enjoyed learning new music and playing the piano for the Men’s Bible Class. Dorothy would love to hear the singing of the men each Sunday as they lifted their voices in unison in praise of songs from the Bible Songs and Psalter hymn books.

Family was very important to her. She loved supporting her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in every way she could. Surviving are her daughter, Denise (Buddy) P. Wilson, and son, Marshall Plowden Perry, both of Irmo, SC. Granddaughter Louise (John) Murphy, Grandsons Ryan Johnson and Jason (Hayden) Johnson, Great-grandson Tyler Johnson and his mother Keisha Johnson and Great granddaughter Lucia Prassas.

The family wishes to thank so many family members that have shown her such love and been supportive of her and the family over the years. We are grateful to our caregivers Betsy Grant and Linda Powell, and the staff at Lowman Home who assisted with our Mother’s care.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Women of the Church, Centennial ARP Church or Bonclarken ARP Conference Center,

Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.