Dorothy Lee Pickett

Livestream of Funeral Service

Dorothy Lee Pickett, age 79, passed away Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Baptist Memorial Hospital of North MS in Oxford, MS.

Funeral services will be 1:00 P.M. Saturday, February 11, 2023, in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with the interment to follow at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Pope, MS. the family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. at Wells Funeral Home.

Dorothy Lee Daugherty Pickett was born into this world on October 30, 1941, to Jasper G. “Jap” Daugherty and Margaret Jewell White Daugherty. Along with her parents she was welcomed by brother James Earl “Buddy” Daugherty and sisters Mary Francis and Margaret Ann.

Dorothy’s childhood home was there in the fork of the road where Chapel Hill Road and Enid Dam Road met. She grew up there with her parents, brother, and sisters as most country folks did back then working and playing together as a family. It was there she learned from her Mother how to keep a home full of love, love for family and friends, compassion for others, as well as a green thumb to grow and “put up” food from the garden.
Dorothy was a Daddy’s girl, and she learned a lot from her Daddy as well like the value of hard work, loyalty, and good character.

Dorothy attended Pope school where she found her first two loves that would last her throughout her life. The first was a lanky good-looking boy that lived a half mile down the road, Jack Pickett. She rode the bus with Jack to school. He was a grade ahead of Dorothy but from the time she started school and all throughout they courted and were a couple. The other was basketball, which she excelled at greatly. Dorothy enjoyed her days at Pope High with Jack and many friends. She would go skating, to the lake, and to dances. Her Senior year was always special to Dorothy as her and the team played for the State Championship in Jackson. She would tell the story and always remind people it was the only time that the train stopped in Pope to pick up passengers.

Dorothy and Jack Married January 11th, 1965, and she made the long half mile journey to Jack’s family home site down the road. They welcomed their first son Christopher Edward “Chris” later that year. Dorothy worked at the old luggage plant and later Panola Mills. The family would later expand again as their second son Bradley Keith “Brad” came along. Later, when Brad started to Kindergarten at West Panola and with Chris already
there, she wanted to be able to spend more time with them. She was able to get a job at the cafeteria. Immediately she fell in love with the job. She loved working and being a part of the school, the students, and faculty. Over many years she would touch many lives that have lasted to this day. Mrs. Dorothy’s, or Ms. Dot to some, compassion, love, and kindness always showed through. She would often look out for special needs that some students may have, from an extra scoop of potatoes for a kid the coaches needed to beef up or a kid with a broken jaw that could only eat potatoes through a straw and a milkshake. When the school became North Delta, she got to welcome in a whole new group of kids, students, and faculty and it wasn’t long that they took to her as well. Dorothy often worked helping her Sister Margaret Ann and Brother-in-law Arthur Flemmons at their different restaurants while school was out for breaks. The last one being the Catfish Hut which she would eventually buy and run along with Jack.
She took the already successful business and grew it even more. With her work ethic and passion for the business it became the “go to’ place for people all over the country and even some foreigners. Dorothy’s famous hush puppies, buttermilk dressing (ranch), or her winter special on Thursday nights of all you can eat boiled or fried chitlin’s, yes Dorothy could even make those taste good, was the best. Dorothy often employed girls working
their way through school, ladies needing some extra income for their families, and a special niece while she had the restaurant.

Dorothy and Jack welcomed their first Grandchild, Devan in 1991. Later in 2001 came Taylor and Dustin followed by Jackson in 2003 and finally Manley 2006. She loved and cared for all her Grandchildren, but everyone knows there was that one! Dorothy would welcome two great-grandchildren, Selena in 2020 and Scarlett in 2022. Dorothy’s time here was full of LIFE. She lived, loved, and worked hard. Dorothy’s home was always the place to be and stop for some Sweet T, Coffee, some food, if you were hungry or just good laughs and fellowship. Over the years friends
routinely would congregate at Dorothy and Jack’s. People genuinely loved to be around Dorothy and she them. Her joys in life were Jack, her boys, grandkids, family and friends, and yes basketball.

Dorothy is at last with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Jack, and yes probably fussing at him about something he did or didn’t do.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, brother, and one sister, Margaret Ann. Her memory will forever be with her Boys, Chris and Brad.
granddaughters Devan and Taylor, Grandsons Dustin, Jackson, and Manley. Great Granddaughters Selina and Scarlett. Nieces Lynn, Reba, Debra, Pam, Penny, Mandy, and Tammie. Nephews Mike, Mark, Patrick, Michael, Jeffrey, and Phillip. Along with countless family and friends.