Dorothy "Dot" S. Wood Perry

Dorothy Sue Wood Perry

 Dorothy Sue (Dot) Wood Perry, age 95, passed away on December 11, 2024, at Christian Care Center of Medina. She was the youngest and last survivor of six children born to Rolan Edwin Wood and Bessie Lee Parham Wood. She was born in Milan, TN on May 18, 1929, raised there and lived almost all her adult life in Jackson, TN. She graduated in 1949 from Milan High School and later attended West Tennessee Business College. Dorothy married Wayne Tomlin Perry, of Jackson, TN on December 22, 1956. From this union, one child was born, Cynthia Leigh (Cindy). She attended the Milan Cumberland Presbyterian Church before marriage, and Wayne and Dot joined the new Calvary Cumberland Presbyterian Church around 1960 and had the distinction of having had Calvary’s first new baby when Cindy was born. Later in 1967, they joined First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Jackson. Wayne also became a member in 1967 of the Bill Baxter Bible Class that met and broadcasted for many years in the old and new City Hall in downtown Jackson. In later years, she accompanied Wayne in this radio ministry until it disbanded.

 In her first job, Dot worked at the Credit Bureau of Milan with her sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Don Lawrence. After coming to Jackson, she worked at Central Service, the Jackson Clinic Pharmacy, Lambuth College, Madison Medical Clinic with Drs. Wyatt and Koonce and finally Semmes Murphey Clinic being Administrative Assistant to Dr. Glen Barnette from which she retired in 1994. She attended classes and became a Certified Medical Transcriptionist during her employment with Madison Medical Clinic. When Cindy was born, she enjoyed being a stay-at-home mother until Cindy started school. She also very much enjoyed the two years that they spent living in Memphis, TN when Wayne’s job took them there in 1964.

 Dot was a very active member of the Order of the Eastern Star #85 for decades joining in 1980 and enjoyed the offices she held over the years including being Worthy Matron of the Chapter on multiple occasions. She traveled to the Grand Chapter and to Chapters in surrounding cities often and made many friends over the years. She participated in the Gavel Club and Past Matrons and Patrons group. She enjoyed bowling with a League and painting and drawing in her spare time. She attended art classes taught by Norma Dennison at Jackson State Community College. She enjoyed going to her many Class Reunions at Milan High School every 5 years when able to attend. She spent many years actively attending the Women’s Circle Meetings in her church and was a CPW member. In earlier years, she enjoyed exploring family genealogy when time allowed. She also accompanied Wayne to his annual Army Reunions each year, Perry Family Reunions held at Ararat Baptist Church and Tomlin Reunions. Dot was a very good cook and could easily turn out twenty-five different items for a meal with her precise planning.

Her husband, Wayne, predeceased her in 2016 after over 59 years of marriage. Dorothy’s father passed away in 1973, and she later lost her mother at age 99 in 1987. Mrs. Perry was also predeceased by her brothers and their wives, Bernice E. Wood (Elaine), Robert L. Wood, Sr. (Ruby) and Rev. Bennie R. Wood (Margie) and her sisters and their husbands, Ann Wood Lawrence (Rev. Don) and Hettie Wood Moss (Perry) and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law in Wayne’s family including James Garland Perry (Maude), James Cecil Perry, Sr. (Jean), Walter Dennis Perry (Lydia), Gladys Perry Bowers (Orman, Sr.) and Ruby E. Perry Vantreese Wood (Arliss Vantreese; Robert Wood). Additionally, she was predeceased by former sister-in-law, Louise Groves Wood Harper, nephews, Stephen Ray Wood, Orman Franklin Bowers, Jr., Gary F. Bowers, and James Karl Perry, and by nieces, Mary Wood Davis, Elizabeth Ann Wood, Mary Dale Bowers, Nancy Perry Wamble, Jean Vantreese McKenzie, Judy Perry Smith and her beloved feline companion of 16 years, Buddy.

 Survivors include her daughter and her daughter’s fiancé, Cindy Perry Deaton and Dale Warren. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews including Rev. Don Harold Lawrence (Emily), Cecilia Wood Snuffer, Robert L. Wood, Jr., Michael E. Wood, Camille Moss Key (David), John Wayne Moss (Debra), Becky Wood Roberts, Tim Wood, David Wood, Philip Wood, Patricia Perry Thomason (late Ken), Virginia Ann Vantreese Morris (late Bill), James Cecil Perry, Jr. (Amanda), Donna Perry Gerhardt (Rev. Gary) and Kay Perry Whitt (late Guy) and all of their families. She also leaves one first cousin on her side of the family, Ms. Bennie Parham Murphy of California, and first cousins of Wayne including Lucy Nell Butler Noyes of Ohio, Janet Tomlin Stuckey of South Carolina, and Martha Tomlin Levy of South Carolina. She is also survived by her feline companion, Jake, who took care of her as much as she took care of him.

 SERVICES: A funeral service honoring Dot’s life will be held on December 17, 2024, at 1:00 pm in the chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors, with Rev. Terry Hunley officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens where several other family members on both sides are interred. The family will be receiving friends on December 17, 2024, beginning at 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at Arrington Funeral Directors.

The family is requesting that memorial contributions be directed to First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1730 Highway 45 Bypass, Jackson, TN. 38305. 

Arrington Funeral Directors. 148 W. University Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305

731.668.1111 arringtonfuneraldirectors.com