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As I sit here in my
home, I think about a
sweet, young Doris full
of dreams and hopes for
the future. I met Doris
and LeAnn when we moved
back to Fort Valley when
she was about 11 years
old. She was all legs
and arms and had the
sweetest smile in the
world. She loved my
daughters and she and
LeAnn became a part of
my family. My daughters
were so impressed with
Doris and her ability to
draw and do cartwheels.
She could entertain them
and teach them at the
same time. We all had
so much fun. We had
long talks and I always
tried to listen and give
some advice. I watched
her grow through her
teenage years and
watched as she went off
to college. I always
wished and prayed she
would find the happiness
she so deserved.
She made messes in my
kitchen. She loved my
children and made us all
smile. I loved her as a
daughter and always
will. I miss her.
Doris will never be
forgotten and will
always be a sweet young
girl with a sweet
smile. She has and
always will have a
special place in my
heart.
I am sure she is an
angel in heaven, but she
was also an angel here
on earth to me.
Miss Nancy
***** Doris had a true talent with children, just like her mom. She was the most fun and loving babysitter any kids could have. I feel very lucky to have grown up near her. Several memories come to mind, and I am so glad to be able to share them.
She taught us how to play "Fish on Dry Land", where you are only "safe" if you are not touching the floor. She let us jump on all the furniture and taught us how to climb up on the kitchen counters. Somehow, I can never remember my mom fussing at her for this.
She would draw pictures for us. We could open up any book to any picture, and she could duplicate it. I remember getting her to draw me a picture of Peter Rabbit under Mr. McGregor's window. Also, she had this neat trick of drawing a rainbow with crayons on a piece of paper, six or seven colors all touching in a big square. Then she would color over that all in black. She would then take a safety pen and sketch out a smiley face. It would appear as a rainbow, underneath the black. I must have been extremely impressed to remember that from over 25 years ago.
Doris had a really neat room in the house on H Ave. She had peacock feathers from Wilby's farm spread out in front of the mirror. They were so beautiful. She had an old chalkboard that she would let me draw on and she would play school with me. Her closet had lots of board games in it and she would let me get anything out to play. We used to play "Sorry!" a lot. Looking back now, I realize how remarkable it was for a teenage girl to let me have the run of her room like that.
Doris would bake with us pretty much anytime she came over to our house or whenever we were at her house. Of course, I think this is how she got the nickname "Spillsy-Willsy". Doris could spill or drop something faster than anybody we knew. There was always a mess. Once, I wanted to make brownies for my friends and I got upset because I had dropped some eggshell in the batter and couldn't find it. When the brownies came out of the oven, Doris cut one square out and it had the eggshell. She told me not to worry, they would taste great. Another time, I found a recipe for sugar-free cookies in a Highlights magazine. I really wanted to make them for Wilby, and Doris helped me. They were awful, but she didn't say a word and Wilby ate them all.
During the summers, Doris kept us while our mom went to work. She would drive us in our big station wagon to the country club to go swimming. She went with us on vacations. Once, my mom borrowed a camper and we took Doris with us to Florida. It was quite the experience, the all-female camping trip. She went with us to Disney World another time. She French-braided everyone's hair so we would not be so hot in the park.
Living beside Doris was like living next-door to a Barbie doll. She was so beautiful. We got to go over and see her get ready for prom, and we got to stand in the driveway and watch her leave. She was like a princess in her pink and white. I also remember her being a high-school cheerleader. It was very cool to see her at a school pep rally and be able to tell my friends I knew her.
On Christmas mornings, she always came over to see what we got from Santa. She would be just as excited as we were, and she would play with everything.
Doris was always loving, kind, and patient with us, and we were difficult at times. I know she was an incredible mother. I imagine she is taking care of all the children in heaven now, as she watches over her own here on earth.
I miss you, Do-Do, and I will never forget you.
Shelly
*****
Doris and my daughter were in college together and were good friends. There were about six young ladies who were good friends and when they graduated from the junior college after two years, I invited them to my home for a dinner party. I had watched them grow and mature in those two years and I was so proud of all of them. I placed a poem near their plate as a party favor and souvenier of the party. Some of them read the poem with tears in their eyes because the group of six were scattering to several colleges. I recall that Doris was going to U of GA, three or four were going to Statesboro. I didn't see Doris again for several years. It surprised and thrilled me when Doris said to me "I have such good memories of the farewell dinner party you had for us and I wanted you to know that I kept the poem you gave us that night. Once in a while, I take it out and read it again because it means a lot to me. It really defines growing up."
Who else but Doris knew just what to say to people to make them feel special and good about themselves? She was truly amazing and my heart breaks when I think about how she was killed. Such a fine person as Doris DID NOT deserve that, her family ~ children, husband, mother, sister ~ did not deserve to lose her in such an evil manner. It will be healing to read some of the great memories about Doris. I want to contribute to a reward, the website or whatever it takes to catch the person/persons who took this lovely woman from us all. The poem I mentioned is below: Comes The Dawn There are so many people claiming to be the author of this poem, I hesitate to put an author's name at the bottom for fear of giving credit where it is not due. Veronica A. Shoffstall claims to be the original author and says on her website that is has been plagarized many, many times. Veronica's title is "After a While". The one that I gave to the girls was titled "Comes the Dawn".
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If I could wish for my life to be perfect, It would be tempting but I would have to decline, For life would no longer teach me anything. ....by Allyson Jones GANANA Doris was always taking care of all of her classmates when she could. Once when we were in school, HB came to school with his shirt on inside out. It was a collared, pullover shirt with buttons (probably an Izod...that was the thing back then!). Anyway, CH was laughing and planning on give HB "a hard time" about wearing his shirt in a "new fashion" way. But our dear, sweet Doris put a stop to it right away! She told HB about his shirt, and he immediately went to the restroom to change it. She really was kind and considerate of everyone's feelings...what a loss for us all. - member of the the
"Class of 85" I never knew Doris personally, but I have heard many kind things about her. I can only imagine how wonderful she was by the things her sister, her cousins, and her friends have said about her. I’d like to share a funny story I heard about her recently. One of the reasons I think the story is so funny is because I’ve heard those who knew her best talk about how she was generally the calm one compared to her sister. This story took place one night after Doris and her sister were old enough to drive. Doris had gotten up during the middle of the night and gone across town to check on something. Her sister found out about this the next morning and was fussing at Doris. She said, “What would have happened if Mama or Daddy had gotten up in the night to go to the kitchen and noticed that you weren’t in your bed!” Doris answered, “I thought of that. I left a note on my pillow saying I’d be right back.”
-M. M.
And friends are friends
forever
-from the lyrics Friends,
by Michael Smith |