Dorothy Louise Alligood Ross

Dorothy Louise Alligood Ross, 88, longtime resident of Tallahassee and lived in Havana for the past 19 years, passed away on August 5, 2015. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Dan Ross who passed away in 2000.

Dorothy was born in Birmingham, AL on October 18, 1926 to the late Jessie Carl and Lena Grace Alligood. The family moved to Thomasville, Georgia when she was a young girl and she graduated from Ochlocknee High School in 1944. Upon graduation, she went to work for Western Union in Thomasville and then at the Bank of Thomas County. In 1947, she married John Daniel Ross of Boston, GA and they moved to Tallahassee where she went to work for the B.K. Roberts Law Firm. In 1948, they started their family and she became a stay-at-home Mom until 1959 when she went back to work for the Florida Development Commission. In 1965, she moved to the State Board of Administration where she worked until her retirement in 1991.

Dorothy was affectionately known as Meemaw to her grandchildren, their friends and all the many friends of her children and extended family members. When you met her for the first time, she instantly became Meemaw and you were now part of her family. She never met a stranger, never judged anyone and always welcomed you in to her home. She was an incredible mother, cook and seamstress, loved the beach and taking her children and grandchildren on trips just to see what was out there. She also had a love for working in her yard or what she called digging in the dirt, planting flowers and watching them grow.

Dorothy is survived by her four children and their spouses whom she loved just as much as they loved her: David (Jackie) Ross of Tallahassee; Bill (Dovie) Ross of Pelham, GA; Allen (Kathy) Ross of Tallahassee and Judy (Ben) Greve of Tallahassee as well as a very dear, loving and devoted family friend, Elouise Washington. Other survivors include her six grandchildren: Shannon (Jason) Douglas; David (Hyla) Ross; Nikki Ross (finance’ Dontanous Davis); John (Janey) Ross; Darrell (Carrie) Ross; and Brian (Emily) Ross. Her 11 great grandchildren: (Casey Stewart, Todd Douglas and Lindsey Douglas); (Landri Ross and Cole Ross); (Kady Thomas and Daniel Ross); (Devin Ross); (Justin Ross, Cameron Ross and Brynlee Ross) and her two great-great grandchildren (Jack Thomas and Bailey Thomas). She is also survived by her sister, Elizabeth Hall of Ochlocknee, GA and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and nephews Jimmy Ross and Ralph Hall in addition to niece, Gwen Snyder.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 8 at the First Baptist Church of Havana. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m., followed by a service at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. Eric R. Erskine officiating. Interment will follow at Tallahassee Memory Gardens in Tallahassee. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation are asked to do so to their charity of choice. The family would also like to give a very special thanks to the staff at Tallahassee Memorial Rehabilitation Center for all their care and support.