Mabel Johnson Dorsey

Early on Christmas morning, with her daughters by her side, Mabel J. Dorsey completed 94 years of vigorous living.Bornon March 18, 1918, Mabel was the baby girl of Jefferson Davis Johnson and Lottie Seagroves Johnson.Because of her mothers death during the flu epidemic, young Mabel was raised by her uncle and aunt, Colon and Alma Johnson in the Farmville Community of Chatham County.It was an idyllic upbringing.While chasing her cousin and best friend, Marjorie Matthews, through the woods, hiding in the smokehouse, picking flowers to put on every grave in the community cemetery, and attending the one-room schoolhouse up the road, Mabel absorbed valuable lessons.From her aunt, who cooked for the teachers and others who boarded at their home and grew most of their food, Mabel learned the value of hard work and saving money.But it was her uncle who introduced Mabel to the world outside, taking her everywhere he went -from the barbershop to the courthouse to call in the votes to Raleigh after every election.She frequently recalled helping her uncle drive voters to the polls and of introducing candidates, especially Secretary of State Thad Eure, to Chatham county voters.So it was only natural that Mabel helped Uncle Colon spearhead the election of Chatham county native Wilkins P. Horton as Lt. Governor in 1936.Mabel loved to tell the story of how Governor Horton, after arriving in Raleigh,calledher family to get Mabel out of that pea patch to come to Raleigh to work for him!Thus, after earning a one-year commercial degree from Peace College, Mabels career in politics was launched.In a time when womens roles were more circumscribed than now, Mabel, full of energy and determination, threw herself into Raleigh political and social life.She quickly moved from a clerical position to Chief Engrossing Clerk in the NC Senate. When the Senate was not in session, the resourceful Mabel parlayed her skills into such duties as handling the correspondence and social schedule of Miss Mary Scott, wife of Governor Kerr Scott, thus becoming the first secretary to a First Lady. She spent many happy hours organizing monthly dances for eligible Raleigh singles at Memorial Auditorium.A new dress from Jeans on Fayetteville Street for those special occasions was Mabels big splurge.In later years, she worked as a legalsecretary and was Executive Director of Raleigh Sales and Marketing as well as Capital Area Manufactured Housing.In 1941, Mabel married William Frederic Dorsey.Fred died of a massive heart attack at age 48.Therefore, Mabel, a widow with two daughers,became a single mother long before that term was coined.In addition to working full-time, Mabel, following the example set by her uncle, immersed herself in community and political life. A natual leader, Mabel got things done. She held many leadership roles in the Womans Club, the PTA, and her local garden club. A skilled political organizer, she was a charter member of Wake County Democratic Women.Mabel served as Chair of the Raleigh Human Resources and Human Relations Advisory Committee, as Chair of the Wake County Alumnae Association for Peace College as well as a member of the Peace Board of Visitors.Her largest civic footprint, however, grew from her passion for historic preservation. While serving as President of the Wake County Historical Society in 1989, Mabel spearheaded the restoration of Yates Mill.Because of her visionary leadership and persistence, Yates Mill has now become the Yates Mill Historical Parkand Educational Center - a very busy county park which will serve citizens of Raleigh and Wake County for geneations to come. Mabel was also the catalyst for the preservation and restoration of the Leonidas L. Polk House in downtown Raleigh.Mabelreceived many awards for her work,such as the Distinguished Service Awards from Peace College and the Wake County Historical Society, Wake County Volunteer of the Year Award, the Henry Marshall Award from Yates Mill Associates, and life membership in the AssociationExecutives of North Carolina. She was honored to be inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame in 2009.Summarizing her achievements, however, falls short of conveying her colorful personality or strength of character.Fun, feisty, and spunky, her presence lit up every room she entered.Her clothes made a statement and she enjoyed modeling for many chartible events.Mabel was surrounded all her life by good friends because she herself was a loyal friend.Witty and unpredictible, few days spent in her presence could be considered ordinary. She made the world sparkle!The family is grateful for the loving care of Shay Harriss, Dee Simpson, and Bea Omolodun in Mabels later years.Surviving are daughters, Miriam Johnson Dorsey, of Raleigh, and Dr. Sarah Lynn Dorsey Hayes, of Rock Hill, SC; son-in-law Judge John Calvin Hayes III of Rock Hill; grandsons, Matthew Bowen Nance and Albert Tyler Nance of Charleston; granddaughter Jessica Dorsey Nance Rushing and her husband, Christopher Rushing; and great granddaughter, Dorsey Alexandra Rushing, all of Rock Hill.In addition, her brother and sister-in-law, Douglas and Virginia of Sanford, sister-in-law Jean Patton Johnson Nisbet of Sanford, and many nieces and nephews.Friends and family are invited to a visitation at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home on Wake Forest Road from 4 - 6 PM, Thursday, December 27and to a service of witness to the resurrection at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, where Mabel was a charter member, on Friday, December 28, at 11:00 AM.Burial will be at Farmville Community Cemetery in Chatham County Friday afternoon at 2:30 PM.Flowers are welcome.It would also please her family if contributions are made in Mabels memory to any of the following organizations:Yates Mill Associates, Post Office Box 10512, Raleigh, NC27605-0512LL Polk House Foundation, c/o Peter Daniel, 615 Furches Street, Raleigh, NC 27607,Farmville Community Cemetery, c/o Shelby Underwood, 2009 Everett Dowdy Road, Sanford, NC 27330