Obituary of Dorothy Jean Walker

Dorothy Jean Walker’s well-lived life began Wednesday, December 27, 1950. Although the family lived in Chicago, IL; Dot was born in Etaw, AL. The eldest of the children born to the union of Love Rogers and Willie Mae Addie, Dot was a vibrant personality who filled up any room she was in and had a special way of making her siblings; Josephine Parker, Virginia Horton, Larry Rogers, Ethel Mae Kent, and Charles Rogers feel individually special. Dot attended John F. Kennedy High School and went on to business school. Her career spanned 32 years at the Doubleday Brothers company beginning in July, 1974; as a Customer Service Representative and Election Specialist, she retired in 2006 after 32 years. Of Dot’s many accomplishments, her greatest was her three children and six grandchildren; (Lonnie Edwards) LaTonya Shiree Edwards (Julius Robinson) Jayden, Juwan and Jasmine Robinson; (Neal Simpson) Quintin O’Neal Simpson (Khadijah Monroe) Alayah, Zaire and Amir Simpson; (Neal Simpson) Courtney Alfred Simpson. If you spent two minutes with Dot you knew that she was the life of the party and at that party you were sure to find two things, “Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward playing at full-blast and Joanne Owens in attendance. Meeting at Doubleday, she and Joanne became inseparable friends and Joanne became a member of the family. Dot was an amazing cook and would dance the soles off her shoes. She left her mark on each and everyone of us. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her bonus mom - Earlene Simpson, Ronnie Walker, Lonnie Edwards, half brothers and sisters; Katie Mae, Annie Gay, Annie Bell, Juanita, Tommie Mae, James, Loveless, and Willie Rogers and her God-Daughter, Jennifer Owens. She is survived by her children (and their spouses), grandchildren, five siblings and one half-sister, Rose Lee; Neal Simpson, a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and bonus sister Joanne Owens. Dot’s love didn’t just embrace the people she knew. She did her part to impact the lives of others by regularly donating to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Dot deeply believed in GOD; she would begin each morning thanking Him for giving her another day. We are grateful to GOD to have had almost 70 years with Dot and we will gladly live the rest of our days by the motto she had for her children, “Be the best you can be and do the best you can do…” We will remember to take time to enjoy the little things in life because she always reminded us, “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”