Dorothy Burton

Obituary For Dorothy Burton

Dorothy Vera Cogborn Robinson Burton (age 91) was born September 28, 1930, in the High Ridge Community of Linwood, Alabama. She transitioned at Baptist Hospital South, following a brief illness in Montgomery, Alabama, late on Monday, October 18, 2021. At an early age, she professed her faith and was a member of Pleasant Grove CME Church in High Ridge, Alabama. She was later a member of Bethany Seventh Day Adventist Church when she resided in Montgomery, Alabama. Following the death of her first husband, Willie Mack Robinson in 1966, she and her daughters moved to Tuskegee, Alabama, and she joined Greenwood Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorship of Reverend Raymond Francis Harvey.

Dorothy was quite a scholar and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School (Montgomery, Alabama) in 1947. She began her undergraduate work at Alabama State University following high school and later transferred to Tuskegee Institute (now University), where she completed her undergraduate B.S. Degree, Master’s Degree, and Education Specialist Degree in Home Economics Education at Tuskegee University. Dorothy was a Home Economics Teacher (Elementary – High School) in the Macon County School System until retirement in 1992. Following Retirement, Dorothy was a Part-Time Reading Teacher at Tuskegee University for several years. Prior to her employment in the Macon County Schools, Dorothy was a Residence Counselor at several Tuskegee University dormitories and a Community Organizer/Field Recruiting Representative for the Tuskegee University Seasonally Employed Agricultural Workers Program (SEAW). In Bullock County, Alabama, Dorothy was the first Black Poll Official at the Almeria Community Center Voting Precinct. She also was a Long-Term Substitute Teacher in several Bullock County Schools for many years prior to moving to Tuskegee in 1967. Other professions included Nurse’s Assistant at various Doctors’ offices in Montgomery, Midwifery, Hairdresser, Seamstress, and the Empire and Pekin Theatre Box Office Attendant in Montgomery during the late 40’s and early 50’s.

Dorothy was a proud member of the Greenwood Missionary Baptist Church Senior Choir and Usher Board, The Local/National Tuskegee Alumni Club Association, Tuskegee Jack and Jill of America, Tuskegee Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., NAACP, The Home Economist Teachers’ Assn., Alabama Education Association, Macon County Chapter of Alabama Education Association, National Education Association, and Councils for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), where she worked tirelessly on various scholarship committees and membership committees and in various other volunteer service capacities. Her favorite pastime was shopping!

Dorothy was preceded in death by her loving husbands, Willie Mack Robinson and Col. McDawson L. Burton, a devoted long-term companion William Johnson, her daughter Brenda Joyce Robinson, her mother and father, Della Johnson Cogborn and William Cogborn, her five sisters and brothers, Alice (Capers) Fears, Wilma (Edgar Reed/Larry Merritt) Merritt, Jeffrey (Myrtle/Frances) Cogborn, Garland William (Edna Johnson) Cogburn, and Mary (Lee Anthony) Hubbard. Those left to cherish her memory include daughters, Ethel “Cookie” Greene and Olivia Baker of Tuskegee, Alabama, Cheryl (Brian) Coston of Jonesboro, Georgia, Margaret Katie (Theron) Burton Jones (Morena Valley, CA), and Robert (Henrietta) Burton (Clarksville, TN).

Dorothy’s love for family permeated throughout her life. She was a devoted “NeeNee” to LaCheryl Elliott of Roswell, GA, Dr. Faye Gerard of Sugar Land, TX, and Fred (Atty. Ashley Williams) Greene, III of Washington, DC; Ronald LaPread, Jr. of Tuskegee, AL and Murray (Heather) Baker, III of Tuskegee, AL; and ‘Great-NeeNee’ to Mark Faison, III, Jordan and Jalynn Gerard, Laurel Elliott; Kendrick Labine, Chloe Clark, Kaleb and Olivia Baker II, Karmen Jones, Kheron Jones Kassings, Indi Burton Hines, Marlana Burton Farris, Danita Lampkin-Smith, Henry (Jenny) Burton, and Malissa Burton. She will be truly missed by sons-in-law, Fred Greene, Jr. of Washington, DC, Ronald LaPread (Farah) of Auckland, New Zealand, and Murray Baker, Jr. of Tuskegee, as well as a host of Nieces and Nephews to include: Bernard (Vinesa)Fears, Whitney Cogborn, Suzanne Cogborn Pickens, Angela (Robert) Cogborn Cuffie, Karen Cogborn, Lolly Cogborn, Della “Poppy” Cogborn, William Cogborn, Raul Cogborn, Anthony Hubbard, Charlita Hubbard, Glynn (Lyona) Robinson, Eddie (Sandra) Robinson, Douglass (Felicia)Robinson, Timothy (Wanda) Robinson, Craig Robinson, Dewon (Tomeka) Robinson, Warren Robinson, Lanier Robinson, Brian (Vanetta) Robinson, Special Cousins: Minnie “Sweetie” Cooks, Lewis (Lonia) Cogborn, Millonease (Clyde) Cogborn Servant, The Gillis Sisters, Ruby (Lemarel) McClaney, The Tom McClaney Family, The Robert (Doris) Cogborn Family, The Hubert (Bobby) Johnson Family, The Cox Family, The Sanders Family, Sister Miles, and The Jessie Rowell Family. Also missing her, Best Friends: Harriett Pinnock of Richmond, VA, Paralee Smith of Tuskegee, AL, Alma “Doll” Rogers of Prince Georges County, MD and Marylene Swopes of Wadsworth, IL, along with a host of other loving relatives, dear friends, colleagues, and former students. She was the original “MaDear” to hundreds of her daughters’ friends and associates.

Family Hour and Viewing of Remains will occur on Friday, October 29, 2021, 4-6 PM at Ross Clayton Funeral Home Chapel, 1412 Adams Av, Montgomery, AL 36104, and on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 11:00 AM Graveside Services will be conducted at Pleasant Grove C.M.E. Church High Ridge Community – Bullock County, 11312 Bullock County Rd. 7, Troy, AL. 36081.

The service will be live streamed on Facebook. Please click on the link that says CLICK HERE to view.

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