Viola Faulkner Dorsey

Viola Faulkner Dorsey, 94, of 1600 Campbell Dr., died Wednesday, May 21, 2014.
Born in Holly Springs, Georgia, Viola was the daughter of Jake and Mary Faulkner. She was a
sibling to six sisters and two brothers. All but 2 sisters, Jackie F. Scott, Fayetteville, GA and
Aurora F. Gaines, Peachtree City, GA preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death was
her husband of 61 years, Paul B. Dorsey, a local businessman.
She is also survived by 3 daughters, Lynn D. Gatchell and her husband Doug Gatchell, Athens;
Mary D. Anderson and her husband Michael Anderson, Montgomery AL; Beth Dorsey and
her husband Burwell Robinson, Richmond, Virginia; 2 sons Paul B. Dorsey, Jr., Athens and
David F. Dorsey and his wife June, Oberlin, Ohio; 2 granddaughters, Lisa G. Lane and her
husband, Buck Lane of Athens, and Rachel Anderson, Auburn, AL; 2 step granddaughters
Sarah R. Hendricks and her husband Tim Hendricks, and Rebecca R. Gregg and her husband
Mark Gregg, Richmond, VA; 3 grandsons, Michael Gatchell and his wife Heather, Greenville,
SC, Tristan Campbell and his fiancé Sarah Herdrich of Asheville, NC and Jake Brannon Dorsey,
Chicago, IL; a great granddaughter, Kathryn Lane, Arlington, VA; 2 step great granddaughters,
Camille Hendricks and Juliana Gregg, Richmond, VA; 3 great grandsons, Bo Lane, Athens, and
Griffin and Eli Gatchell, Greenville, SC; and a step great grandson, Colton Gregg, Richmond,
VA.
Viola was a charter member of Green Acres Baptist Church where she continued to be active.
Teaching an adult Sunday School for many years and working with the flower committee were
only a few of the highlights of her church life. In addition to teaching both children and the adult
ladies class, Open Fellowship Class, Viola spent one morning a week leading bible study to
residents of a local nursing home, only giving that up in the last few years. Through the years
she was active with local garden clubs and all activities of her children including Cub Scouts and
PTO.
Viola's love of family was paramount in her life. She looked forward to all family gatherings and
insisted on hosting Thanksgiving Dinners as recently as this past year. She also took great
pleasure in spending time in her garden. Roses were her specialty and she enjoyed gifting them
to friends and family.
She will be remembered by her family as a stalwart survivor, having spent much of her
childhood parentless, after the death of both parents by the time she was nine. Hers was an
amazing family story of strength and fortitude, qualities which she instilled in her five children,
grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 pm on Tuesday evening, May 27 at Lord and
Stephens Funeral Home East. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 28 at 11:00
AM at Green Acres Baptist Church. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Open
Fellowship Class. Private burial will be in the Oconee Hills Cemetery, Athens.
Memorial donations may be made to Green Acres Baptist Church, Athens.