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Rev. James Thomas Dotson
1922-2013
Pike County is mourning the loss of a dedicated educator and preacher.
Rev. James T. Dotson, 91, of Meta, died September 19.
Dotson earned the Purple Heart for his bravery during World War II. He was stationed with the army's 13th Armored Division, 24th Tank Battalion, and he drove a tank under the command of Gen. George Smith Patton. He was wounded in Germany and spent 45 days in a hospital.
A graduate of Belfry High School and Pikeville College, Dotson returned to education after his military service. He served as principal of Blackberry Elementary for 15 years and moved to Ohio, where he served as a principal at an elementary school for 15 years. He moved back to Kentucky and accepted a principal's position at Johns Creek High School for seven years. He then went on to serve as principal at Majestic Elementary, Grapevine Elementary and Mullins High School and later served as the school district's instructional supervisor.
In 1973, Dotson became the superintendent of the Pike County School District and he maintained that role for 11 years.
He was instrumental in obtaining funding for the construction of Phelps High School, McCoy Athletic Center, Dotson Vocation School, Virgie gym, the Charles W. Wright gym at Dorton, Elkhorn City High School and gym, Lookout Elementary and renovations and additions to other schools. Under his watch, full-day kindergarten was implemented, special education programs were put into place and more efficient financial accounting systems were implemented.
He received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Pikeville College in 2005 and served on several local and state boards. The Scott Fork Bridge on U.S. 119 was named in his honor in 2009.
Dotson was married to his wife, Evelyn Melee Oliver Dotson, for 70 years before she died.
He pastored the Blackberry Interdenominational Church for 55 years.
He leaves behind five children: Tom. Jr. (Alberta) Dotson of Meta, Pat (Truman) Thompson of Pikeville, Paul (Phoebe) Dotson of Mount Sterling, Dale (Kathy) Dotson of Lexington and Irvin (Roseanna) Dotson of Meta; 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held September 22 at Blackberry Interdenominational Church. Burial followed in the Dotson Family Cemetery at Blackberry under direction of J.W. Call Funeral Home.
The family requests memorial donations to: Blackberry Interdenominational Church, Box 130, Hwy. 1056 #4612, McCarr, Ky. 41544.
Jerry Wayne Hall, 59, of Pikeville, died September 20. Memorial services: Trinity Harvest Church, Pikeville. A private burial was held under direction of J.W. Call Funeral Home.
Shirley Church Adkins, 65, of Bulls Gap, Tenn., formerly of Pike County, died Sept. 21. Survivors: children Steven Church, Doug Church and Crystal Church; other family members. Funeral: Sept. 25 at Lucas and Son Funeral Home. Burial: Rob Ratliff Cemetery
Will Cole Jr., 86, of Pikeville, died September 18. Survivors: several nieces and nephews. Burial: Sept. 22 at Lucas & Son Funeral Home. Burial: Tackett Cemetery, Island Creek
Tracy Music, 41, of Harold, died Sept. 17. Survivors: mother Lorene Carroll Salisbury; stepfather George Salisbury; other family members. Funeral: Sept. 21 at Lucas and Son Funeral Home. Burial: Estil Salsibury Cemetery at Harold
Dayton Tackett, 77, of Warsaw, Ind., died Sept. 16. He was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Survivors: children Larry Michael of Houston, Tex., Karen Griffey of Warsaw, Ind., and Dorothy Murphy of Goshen, Ind.; other family members. Funeral: Sept. 21 at Lucas and Son Funeral Home. Burial: Tackett Family Cemetery, Virgie
Cleo Sanders Bailey, 93, of Hellier, widow of George H. Bailey, died September 20. Survivors: son George (Letha) Bailey. Funeral: September 23 at Marrowbone Missionary Baptist Church. Burial: Annie E. Young Cemetery, under direction of Lucas & Son Funeral Home.
Sheila Scott, 59, of Matewan, W.Va., died September 17. Survivors: mother Tiny Ferrell Whitt of McCarr; daughters Teresa (Darin) Whitt of Hardy, Kelli Blankenship of Beech Creek, W.Va.; other family members. Visitation: September 19 at R.E. Rogers Funeral Home
Larrie Curry, 70 of Ohio, died September 18. Survivors: several siblings; other family members. Funeral: September 22 at R.E. Rogers Funeral Home. Burial: Bowling-Curry Cemetery, Turkey Creek
Albert Ray Williamson, 45, of Sidney, died September 20. Survivors: parent Donald R. and Beulah A. May Williamson of Sidney; several siblings; other family members. Funeral: September 23 at Dix Fork Old Regular Baptist Church. Burial: Stanley Cemetery, Sidney, under direction of R.E. Rogers Funeral Home
Kenneth Anthony Hambrick, 75, of Williamson, W.Va., died September 23. Survivors: sons Kenneth Hambrick Jr., Vernon Hambrick, both of Williamson; other family members. Funeral: September 28 at R.E. Rogers Funeral Home
Mark Jones, 38, of McAndrews, died September 20. Survivors: son Johnny "Boo" Wolford of South Williamson; other family members. Funeral: September 25 at Stone United Methodist Church. Burial: Pinson Family Cemetery, Sidney, under direction of West Funeral Home
Christene Kendrick, 66, of Stanville, widow of Ireland Kendrick, died September 22. Survivors: daughters Dorothy (Steen) Prater of Stanville, Ann (David) Varney of Kimper; other family members. Funeral: September 22 at Thacker Memorial Funeral Home. Burial: Annie E. Young Cemetery
Linda Belle Ratliff, 83, of Pikeville, widow of Bernon Ratliff, died September 22. Survivors: children Vernon Ratliff, Phyllis Carter, both of Lexington, Vonda Yates, Jody Presley, Patty Hopkins, Crystal Petruska, all of Pikeville; other family members. Funeral: September 23 at Thacker Memorial Funeral Home. Burial: Annie E. Young Cemetery
Pamela Winn, 49, of Printer, died Sept. 17. Survivors: parents Emmett and Velma Yates Lawson of Pikeville; husband Jimmie Winn; children Jerred Chapman of Harold, Josh Winn of Franklin, Ohio, and Kalya Lakes of McKee; other family members. Funeral: Sept. 20 at Hall Funeral Home. Burial: Davidson Memorial Gardens at Ivel
John Richard Blair, 71, of Prestonsburg, died Sept. 22. Survivors: brothers Robert Blair of Prestonsburg and James Blair of Culleoka, Tenn.; other family members. Funeral: Sept. 26 at Nelson Frazier Funeral Home. Burial: Gethsemane Gardens, Prestonsburg
Liza Jane Wells, 91, of Melvin, died Sept. 22. Survivors: daughters Teresa Wells of Prestonsburg and Pamela Reavley of Taylorsville; other family members. Funeral: Sept. 26 at Nelson Frazier Funeral Home. Burial: Wash Hall Cemetery at Weeksbury
Roger Reed Jr., 71, of Hueysville, died Sept. 20. Survivors: children Roger Reed and Helen Womack, both of Indiana, James Reed, Melanie Allion and Lenora Martin, all of Hueysville; other family members. Funeral: Sept. 23 at Nelson Frazier Funeral Home
Eric Dewayne Shepherd, 33, of Hueysville, died Sept. 18. Survivor: parents Glenna and Ronnie Slone; other family members. Funeral: Sept. 21 at Nelson Frazier Funeral Home. Burial: Howard Cemetery at Hueysville
O.C. Shepherd, 73, of Martin, died September 19. Survivors: wife Ruth Gibson Shepherd; children Terry Gibson, Donna Brito, Karen Conley, all of Indiana, Charles Shepherd of Martin, Jeffery Shepherd of Ohio, Mark Shepherd of Lexington, Vicki Collins of Staffordsville; other family members. Funeral: September 24 at Nelson Frazier Funeral Home. Burial: Gibson-Shepherd Cemetery, David