Memories
Doris Spillers Worrell
page 3

I remember being invited to Doris and Jon's wedding shower, where the theme was Outdoor/Garden Tools.  My fiance and I got to watch Doris and Jon open present after present after present.  Just when we thought they had run out of presents to open, someone came running up with a card.  Jon and Doris opened the card up, read it, and then gasped.  The card announced that they were getting a "Snapper" for their wedding present!  Jon and Doris got all excited, thinking they were getting a great lawnmower!  Then someone came around the corner of the house, pulling along a goat, with "Snapper" written on a sign on it's neck!  I remember Doris's jaw dropping for a minute, then she just started laughing.  I seem to remember she later found that goat a good home, and went to visit it every now and then. 

Doris took getting that goat in stride, just like she did with everything else in life.

Susan
*****
      I  knew Doris and her family growing up and although we didn't always live close, we have always stayed close.  I remember playing board games with Doris and my sisters on the floor of their living room.  I remember the rooster on the mantle and the brightness of the living room which looked out onto Wilby's garden.  I remember playing Yahtzee and Lincoln Logs and other board games.  The game I remember most is one where each player had a fat man that went around the board eating food and sliding the game pieces into the mouth of the fat men.   It was fun.  Doris always let us take the games from her closet and helped us clean them up afterwards.

A. S.

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Dear Doris, 
      It's so hard to believe that you are gone.  While I know that you are at peace, it saddens me to know that you will not be able to watch your children grow and see what a difference you made during your short time here. One never thinks about losing a friend at such an early age, therefore I never told you what a great woman I feel you had grown up to be.  I will always remember you as that cute, somewhat shy little girl that I grew up with.  I now realize that you were all grown up, and a beautiful person who touched everyone that you met in a positive way.  One never knows what will be remembered about them when they're gone.  I have heard so many wonderful things about you from people who knew the "grown up Doris"!  I know that you would be proud, embarrassed, but proud.  So many people miss you, and not one bad word has been said.  You were a beautiful person and will always be missed.  Until we meet again my friend, know that I will do whatever I can to ensure that your memory is alive and that justice is served.
L. R.
July 20, 2007
                                                                                                                                                                                         
                     
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       Doris lived right down the street from my family.  She babysat me all the time.  When I sit and think about her, I have many special memories.  One that comes to mind, is her parakeet, Blueberry.  He was in a cage in her den.  That bird must have lived forever.  I thought that was the neatest thing.  When I was little, I always wanted a bird, just  because Doris had one.

        I also remember her closet full of board games!  We used to play one called "Fat Chance".  I loved it!  But my favorite game we played was called "Go to the Head of the Class".  We would sit for hours in my parents  bright yellow living room and play this.  I didn't always know the answers to the questions because some of them were too hard for me,  but Doris would help me and always make sure I knew as many answers as she did.  This is how Doris was!  Always thinking of others before herself!  Always!  She went on some trips with my family and we would go to Pine Needles to swim all the time!  We'd also jump on my neighbor's trampoline a lot.  She would teach me new tricks. 

        I have a picture of she and me playing a board game at my house.  I was probably about 7 or 8 years old.  I will treasure that picture forever.  And I know, that she is in Heaven right now, bringing joy to all those around her- just like she did here on earth.  She was a gift and will always remain a "treasure" to all of those who knew her.  We love you, Doris.  You will never be forgotten.

    -Shelly  (July 30, 2007)
*****
      While attending classes, at Middle Georgia College, I was introduced to Doris. We talked and become friends through that year. Doris was always there, with a smiling face. As the school year went on, I finally had someone to talk to who would listen. Even though she was a beautiful girl, I looked to her as a good friend sister type person. The next school year, I had to leave MGC so the contact with Doris was kept through friends that were still in school, and eventually we moved on.

      In September, I was reading the paper when I saw that she had passed. I have not seen or heard from her in twenty years, but as soon as I read about her, all I could remember was her smile, and her eyes. That day everybody I called did not know anything but that she had passed. I am about the same age, and only could wonder what had happened. Was it a car wreck, cancer, or some other illness? No one could tell me. The months from that day have passed, but every time I hear about MGC, or the Westfield Schools, I think of her.

      Last week, I picked of the newspaper, and there on the front page, was the article about her unsolved murder. I was in disbelief, how could someone do this to her. My disbelief then turned to anger.

      When my father died, I asked, “Why him?” a young lady told me that God always surrounds Himself with beautiful things, and He did on these two occasions.  My family’s prayers are with each of you.

      Bryan  (July 2007)
*****

It was through Christ that we met - at First Baptist Church Sunday School class.  And it is Christ who will give us the strength and peace needed to mend our shattered hearts. 

In our Circle of Friends, Doris was known as the "Sweetest One."  She led the kind of life that made each of us want to be a better person.  Doris would not allow us to harbor anger or unforgiveness.  She would scold us if she heard an unkind word or saw a dirty look.  Now there is an enormous emptiness inside each of us.  We have held each other closely.  We have hugged each other tightly.  We have cried and cried.  Wondering Why Lord?  Why oh Why Dear Lord?

But then we're reminded of our beloved friend.  She would be so disappointed if we dwelled in our sorrows.  You see, for Doris, life was never about ME.  She was always reaching out, hugging, serving, loving, and caring for others... spreading her Father's love.  That was her passion.

We witnessed it with her children.  Realizing they were a gift from our Heavenly Father, she spoke of what an awesome privilege and responsibility it was to be entrusted by God to read one of His own (four to be exact).

Even our children thought Miss Doris belonged to them.  When told of the news, one said, "but she's my other Mother."  Another insisted, "I need to go Pano and Grandad's right now."  During the family viewing at the funeral home, one of the five-year-olds remarked "but we are her family."  Miss Doris made all of the little ones feel as though they belonged to her.  She was that kind of mother to not only her children, but also to ours.

In all of our pain and sorrow, we can hear her sweet voice whispering, "Don't weep for me.  Be strong for each other.  Love my children.  Pray for my husband.  Be the friend to others that I have been to you.  Share God's Word and share His love every moment of every day."

As we have been forced to say "Goodbye" to our dearest friend we will not fail to celebrate the life that God shared with us- the gift of an angel, our Doris.

"Be still and listen" she would often tell us.  And so we now reminisce as we make time to be still and listen.  We hear her sweet voice, feel her warm embrace, watch her eyes twinkle as she laughs and Thank God for this precious life.  Her sweet spirit will continue to live through the lives of each of us as well as our children.

-Circle of Friends - DW, JP, CW, LH, and ZT
I thank my God every time I remember you. - Philippians 1:3

*****

I think I first met Doris when I was a student at Eastside Elementary School in Douglas, GA.  She was a teacher there at the time and I can remember as a child asking my mama if I was ever going to get put into her class.  I just loved her.  She always had such a welcoming smile.  Her love was big.  I was drawn to such a nice person.  As I got older I ended up babysitting a good bit for her oldest daughter and some for her youngest daughter.  Looking back on it makes me laugh.  It is so funny to me that Doris would pick me up to go baby sit the kids - when I was a kid myself!  I began to go to church with her and know her family better.  I loved them all.  Doris was a wonderful mother and wife and friend.  She was so genuine.  I admired her a lot.  I can remember leaving her house on a number of occasions and asking God if he would help me to be more like Doris.  It may sound silly, but I saw patience, love, kindness, and many other qualities in her that I wanted to replicate into my own life.  Looking back, I wish I had talked more with her, gotten more advice, and told her how wonderful I thought she was.  I’ll see her in Heaven one day without a doubt and I hope I get the chance to tell her then.  Now, on a lighter note…when I decided to be a brain surgeon and left for the weekend to elope and walked in Doris’s house to see her the following week, well I thought she was going to bend me over her knee and spank my bottom!  I love to think about that time.  That was the most expression I’ve ever seen on her face.  It was hilarious and great.  She just laughed and laughed and threatened some.  Soon after that she gave me a book on marriage.  She wrote a little message to me in the front and I started reading it right away.  I still haven’t finished it, but I will.  We loved Doris so much.  She is missed so much.  I love you Doris, thank you for all you gave of yourself.

-JC (August 2007)

It is truly hard to believe that someone so full of life like Doris is no longer with us, at least not physically; she will always be with us in our hearts. As is the case with several others leaving memories here, I met Doris at Middle Georgia College. I knew right away that she was an extraordinary person, kind, a devout Christian, genuine, and full of life. That girl was always up for a -road trip- anywhere! As we newly-minted small town high school graduates began asserting our newfound independence at college, we thought we were unbelievably cool and grown-up whenever we road tripped!

Doris' participation as an MGC baseball team bat girl has been mentioned a time or two, and those memories really make me smile. At one of the baseball games I attended, Doris and her fellow bat girls moved on the field to do their thing following one of the innings. Doris was driving a lawn tractor while pulling a rake. She was beaming and looking particularly gorgeous as she drove the tractor around the infield. What she didn't know is that her rake had dropped off, and she was driving with nothing behind her. Several of us on the bleachers were trying by yelling and gesturing to tell her what happened. She thought we were waving at her, and she waved and smiled right back at us! Thanks to Doris for providing great between the innings entertainment for everyone at the game!

Several times while at MGC, Doris and I talked about what a great time we were having. Often you don't know how good something is -- or a time period is -- until years later when you look back on it. I am thrilled to say that we knew our time at MGC was great, and we knew it while we were there. We savored the friendships and the fun, and it was a great experience.

There is a tendency to canonize someone after he or she passes away, especially when that someone passes away tragically and at such a young age as with Doris. But, I can sincerely say that had you asked me to tell you about Doris prior to her death, my response would have been just as glowing then as it is now. She was a wonderful person who enriched the lives of those who knew her. Doris and I were in each other's wedding, and I remember at mine, after months of pre-wedding stress and exhaustion, she was such a calming, warm presence. She helped make a very special day even more special.

I hope it brings her children and other family members at least some comfort to know that many, many people share in their great loss.

 Lynn Lovett Murray (Sep '07)
***

I grew up in the same neighborhood as Doris and went to school with her.  Some of my most vivid memories of her include riding bikes over the "bump" on Hardeman, seeing some of the baby chicks that Doris' family hatched, going to art lessons in the small little building across the street from the jail on Saturday mornings (Doris was the one who could draw the best.  The rest of us went so we would have something to do.), riding the white bus we called T-Dog, and going to Doris' family farm to pick blackberries and see the cows.  I also remember working at the packing shed with Doris one summer.  She was one of the "box top" girls.

We grew up and went our separate ways, but I'll always remember Doris, one of the kindest people I ever knew.

A.W. (October 2007)
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I remember the time Vikki, Doris and I pulled a prank on our friend Lynn.

We moved her car from the back parking lot at Middle Diddle, and parked it somewhere it else. We got the campus rent-a-cop in on it too. We went back to the dorm, talked to Lynn for a while, and then decided we would go to DQ for a blizzard. Lynn volunteered to drive (none of us spoke up first, obviously!), so we walked to the back parking lot to get to her car - but it wasn't there. We walked all over the parking lot "looking" for her car. We even jumped into my car to drive around looking for it. But everytime we drove past the spot where Lynn's car actually was, Doris was able to distract Lynn simply by talking to her, so Lynn never saw her car. We suggested that we go to the campus "police" (what a joke!), and report it. The Rent-a-cop told Lynn her car had to be towed away, because she had taken up two car spaces with her parking. Lynn couldn't believe it - she was stunned. Then the Rent-a-cop went on to say (much to our surprise!) that because of Lynn's park job - it caused another car to sideswipe her car while trying to park! Doris knew exactly when we were about to go too far - and she quietly said, "Lynn.......... APRIL FOOL'S!!!! Of course, Lynn literally jumped onto Doris, and then Vikki and I - screaming and hugging. When we took Lynn to her car, Lynn jumped out, and ran to her car, kissing that car for all it was worth.

That prank took about 3 hours to execute, but we made a good team, and Lynn was a really good sport. So, every April Fool's day, I always think about that prank, and I think of Doris, Lynn and Vikki.

I think Doris was the only one out of the three of us who was able to keep a really straight face.

-Susan (Dec 2007)
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I met Doris when I worked at Jon's Sports Park in 1997/1998.  She was pregnant with Alexis.  I remember she had such a glow about her.  I had heard of women having this glow while they were pregnant and after giving birth, but I had never seen it until I saw it on her.  She was a great mother.  She was a wonderful woman all together.  I am truly sorry to hear of everyone's loss.  My heart and prayers go out to her whole family.

Stephanie (December 2007)

*****

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