Dorothy Mae Pope

Dorothy Mae Pope Obituary
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, God’s angels came for the soul of Mrs. Dorothy Mae Adams Pope. Born on Sunday, November 16, 1952, in Waynesboro, Tennessee, she was the youngest of eight children born to the late Thomas Lee and Beulah Mae Holt Adams. She married Aaron Neal Pope on June 22, 1974.

Dorothy graduated from Collinwood High School, Class of 1970, was the Class Valedictorian and editor of the school’s yearbook. She obtained her B.S. Degree in Secondary Education, from Florence State University and her Masters+ Degree in Library Science, from the University of North Alabama. Her teaching career spanned thirty-three years with the Lawrence County School System. She taught 1 year at Ethridge Elementary, 5 years at E.O. Coffman Middle School, and 27 years as librarian at Lawrence County High School.

She was a member and past president of the Lawrence County Retired Teachers Association, former member and past president of the Lawrenceburg Study Club, former volunteer at NHC Scott, co-sponsor of the LCHS Junior Civitan Club and a four+ gallon blood donor for the American Red Cross.

On June 6, 1971, Dorothy accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, joined Millrock Free-Will Baptist Church and was baptized in the cool, clear waters of Shawnette Creek by Bro. Ronald Mashburn. After her marriage to Aaron, she became a member of Pleasant Grove Methodist Church in June 1975, and as long as her health permitted, Dorothy was a faithful member, served on several church committees, and was the church’s first librarian. Recently, she joined the Journey Bible Church. Her hobbies included reading, working crossword puzzles, in ink, published by the Tennessean Newspaper, gardening, antiquing, and traveling.

She is survived by her husband of 50+ years, Aaron Neal Pope; two daughters, Stephanie Rose Wright (Kevin Wayne) of Lawrenceburg, and Amy Elizabeth Bryson (Brad Steven) of Suwanee, GA; five grandchildren, Emma Rose, Mikaila Faythe and Callie Elyse Wright, Ethan William and Sophie Elizabeth Bryson; sisters, Mattie “Ruth” Robbins, Iva “Nell” Talley, and Doris Ann Vaden; sister-in-law, Carolyn Franks Adams, all of Collinwood, TN; brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Lisa Abbott Pope of Florence, AL; nieces, Sallie, Julie, Sharon “Sherry”, Pamela “Pam” and Caroline; nephews, Freddy, Norman, Brandon, Brian and Alex.

In addition to her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, William Thomas “W.T.” and Mattie Lee Daniel Holt; paternal grandparents, John Madison and Janie Elizabeth Johnson Adams; one sister, Thelma “Jean” Staggs (Rex J.); three brothers, Thomas Edward “Bud” Adams (Millie Irene Davenport), Billy Joe Adams (Betty Ruth Wright) and Manuel “Dale” Adams; two nieces and four nephews; brothers-in-law, Abraham Newton “Man” Staggs, Carl “Sidney” Robbins, Mitchell Stults, James Lee “Ron” Talley, Ronald “Ronnie” Edward Vaden; mother-in-law, Gena Ester Clark Pope.

The family would like to especially thank Dorothy’s caregivers: Peggy, Janey, Pearlie Mae, Jane, Rosemary and Lois; also, to the staff of Arden Hospice, especially: Kylee, Jeff, and Carly.

Arrangements are being handled by Neal Funeral Home, 231 N. Military Avenue, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM Saturday, March 01, 2025, at Neal Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at Neal Funeral Home at 2:00 PM Saturday, March 01, 2025, with Ronald Mashburn and Chris Blalock officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Lawrenceburg, TN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Pleasant Grove Cemetery, c/o Patti Moore, 340 Valley Road, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464 or Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, 2200 Children’s Way, Nashville, TN 37232.

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