Sis. Dorothy Ross was born in Independence, on Dec. 26, 1948, to the late Isaac E. Ross Sr. and Lillie Brown Ross. She departed this life on June 19, 2017, at the North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond.

Sis. Dorothy accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized under the leadership of the late Rev. Richard E. Wright. She remained a faithful member of the Mt. Gillion Baptist Church, where she held many positions such as: Announcement Clerk, Church Clerk, Chairperson of Junior Mission, President of the Education Ministry, Coordinator for the Youth Conference and Vacation Bible School, Program Coordinator, and Alternate Financial Secretary until 2016 when her daughter fell ill.

Sis. Dorothy served as the secretary of the Rachel Garrison Court Heroines of Jericho #138, Secretary of Shady Grove #134 O.E.S of Fluker, and Royal and Exalted-Order of Amaranth Elizabeth Ash Court #7 of Amite. Sis. Dorothy has always been a loving and caring person who was always willing to go beyond the call of duty to help someone in need.

Sis. Dorothy received her education from the public schools of Tangipahoa Parish. She was a graduate of the Westside High School class of 1967. She went on to graduate from Southern University in Baton Rouge, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work in 1971.

She later discovered her love for teaching and went on to earn her alternative certification in Elementary Education. She taught third and fourth grade for 30 years at various schools including: Amite Elementary, Roseland Elementary, and Chesbrough Elementary, where she retired in 2010 after 15-plus years. One of the moments she was most proud of was when her school had the distinct honor of being awarded the Blue-Ribbon School Award in 2005, which recognizes schools for excellent and outstanding achievements.

Sis. Dorothy will be remembered most for her love of learning and her dedication to children, whether in school or church. She truly believed that no child should be left behind. She worked hard each year to ensure that her students were prepared for the LEAP test. She was just as excited as the students were when high achieving scores were earned.

Sis. Dorothy leaves to cherish her memories: one daughter, Valerie Vanessa (Deddy) Ross; one foster son, Derion Taylor; one brother, Henry Wallace (Bobbie Jean) Ross of Independence; three sisters, Betty Mae Ross of Fluker, and Emma Jean and Joyce Marie Ross of Angie; two aunts, Catherine Thomas of Amite, and Elizabeth Wilson of Roseland; two godchildren, Tyrese Moore of Kentwood, and Willie Addison of Independence; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other loving relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Isaac E. Ross Sr. and Lillie Brown Ross; three brothers, Isaac E. Ross Jr., Freddie Louis Ross, and Willie James Ross; and one sister, Rosalie “Bo” Ross.

The viewing was held on Friday, June 23, at Richardson’s Funeral Home in Amite. Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 24, at 11 a.m. at the Mt. Gillion Missionary Baptist Church in Arcola, pastored by the Rev. Johnny Milton. The funeral was officiated by the Rev. Samuel Brown of the Mt. Vernon and Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Churches, both of Hammond.