Birth Date: 10/06/1937
Deceased Date: 04/12/2021
Dorothy Mae Rawlings was born on October 6, 1937, to the late Marshall and Inell Whitley Rawlings in Wayne County, North Carolina. On Monday, April 12, 2021, as evening was approaching, God whispered her name and told her it was time to come home. Without hesitation, she sighed, took his hand, and peacefully left Princeton NC, and entered into her new heavenly home. Dorothy (Dot) grew up outside of Princeton on a farm surrounded by a big, fun-loving family and gloried in being the center of attention. Her big smile and ever-present laugh were her trademarks and its warmth drew people to her like a magnet. She had a magnetic personality and wasn’t afraid or shy about voicing her opinion. Dorothy attended Princeton Graded school and graduated from Richard B. Harrison High School in Selma. But the bright lights and endless possibilities and excitement of the big city had her packing up her bags and heading north to New York. She moved to East Rockaway, NY, but her journey was just beginning. She met and married Oscar Brooks and moved to Brooklyn where they lived for many years until they bought a home in Teaneck, New Jersey. They were married for almost 30 years and even though the union dissolved, their love and friendship never wavered. She worked for Panasonic as an IT Specialist until her retirement, but sitting around the house wasn’t an option for Dot. One chapter closed another opened: She bought a home outside of Princeton, joined St. Stephens Church of Christ, where she sang and served as the secretary in the Gospel Choir. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. Retirement wasn’t for Dot and she went to work as a breakfast hostess at the Hampton Inn in Selma. How appropriate that someone who loved to interact with people to find a job working with people from all over the world. She reveled in it and remained there until her health began to fail. During that time she met and married Dale McKenna. They traveled and enjoyed life but her health continued to worsen; God saw her struggling and in his infinite wisdom called her home. She leaves to mourn her precious memories, her husband, Mr. Dale Steven McKenna of the home; two sons, Charles Rawlings of New Jersey and Julius (Joyce) Rawlings of Clarksville, Tennessee; two grandchildren, Christopher Dooley (Moshe) of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Kristina Kuykendall of Huntsville, Ala; five great-grandchildren, Keyanna, Keyshawn, Kobe, Jada, and Lyric; one sister, Linda Brown of Selma, NC; two brothers, Morris Rawlings of Erwin Township, New Jersey and Larry Rawlings of Princeton, NC; one brother-in-law, Elder Harold Kennon, Princeton, NC; she was preceded in death by three sisters, Mae Norma Rawlings, Martha Coley, and Clara (Chick) Kennon and one brother, Maylon Rawlings; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends with special thanks to her caregivers, Judy and Lacey.
Funeral Service:
Saturday, April 17
2:00 PM
St. Stephen Church of Christ
308 West First St.
Princeton, NC 27569
Interment:
Saturday, April 17
Evergreen Memorial Cemetery
3338 Us Highway 70a,
Princeton, NC
Please visit www.rlsandersfuneralhome.net to leave online condolences.
