Dorothy Roberta Dawson

Dorothy Roberta Dawson, 89, of Huntington, WV passed away Monday, September 3, 2018 at Cabell Huntington Hospital. She was born on September 18, 1928 in Charlottesville, VA to the late Thomas Scott and Dorothy (Payne) Scott. She leaves behind to cherish her memory; her children, Meredith Slash (Joseph) of Indianapolis, IN, Edna Congleton of Huntington, Paulette Dawson, Meria Broomes both of Indianapolis, IN, Charleen Tooten (Timothy) of Baltimore, MD and Edward Dawson, Jr. (Yvonne) of Huntington. Also, surviving are 12 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and a host of many other family members and friends. Funeral services will be conducted at 12 Noon, Saturday, September 8, 2018 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Timothy Tooten, officiating. Family will welcome friends at 11:00 A.M. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Huntington. Online condolences may be expressed to the family below. FC18-110 Better known as Roberta, she was called by many different names. It all depended on to whom you were talking. Her husband, Eddie, called her Bert or Berta. Her Children called her Momma. Two of her Grandchildren and Godchildren called her Mommie Berta and to the other Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren she was GaGa. Her children's friends called her Moms, Ms.Dawson, Mom Bert or Ms. Roberta. Roberta was talented in sewing, antiquing furniture, upholstering, and playing bid whist. But she was really a shining star in the kitchen. She began her culinary career at the Silver Arrow restaurant in Covington , Virginia. She and her late husband, Eddie, lived there when they first married. In 1954 they moved the family to Huntington. Roberta stayed home with the children who were not yet in school. She became active in the PTA at Barnett Elementary School, and was one of the first African American Brownie/Girl Scout Leaders and a member of First Baptist Church. After their sixth child was in school she began taking cleaning jobs for private families. In the mid sixties she began as a substitute cook in the Cabell County School System. She was head cook at Simms Elementary and Spring Hill Elementary. During this time she became more active in her church, singing in the choir, helping to prepare banquet meals, counseling the BYF, and active in Group #9 of the Women's Organization. And let's not forget, she participated in the protest of "The White Pantry Restaurant" in the Civil Rights Era. She remained active in church, if it was just to fold napkins in the kitchen, as others followed in her footsteps. She attended Sunday School until it was no longer possible for her to go. Roberta was a Red Hatter until her illness and a "Past Worthy Matron", Evergreen Chapter #43, Order of the Eastern Star.After she and Eddie retired they moved to Proctorville, OH. He wanted to have a garden and a place for their Grandchildren to run around. They spent many days taking cruises and visiting their daughters and grandchildren in Indianapolis and Baltimore, often taking the grandchildren from here with them. She lost Eddie after almost 61 years of marriage.Please add that upon her father's death, she discovered a brother, now deceased, and a sister, Jackie Hill. She also leaves to remember her, two very special friends, Janella Coleman and Zenobia Wilson.Proverbs 31: 10-31 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Dorothy Roberta Dawson

September 18, 1928 - September 3, 2018