Dorothy "Dot" Whitfield

Dorothy ‘Dot’ Houston Whitfield passed away on September 9, 2023, at her residence in Ball Ground, Georgia at the age of 95 years.

Dot was born in Early County, Georgia on July 10, 1928, to Gordon and Mary Roberts Houston. Throughout her long life, she experienced immense moments of history, like: life during the Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, five wars, the leadership of 17 U.S. Presidents and many other movements and changes for our society. Dot also had an influence on people that, because of her humbleness, we are all sure she never fully understood the greatness of.

She graduated from Jakin High School in 1945. Following her high school graduation, she chose to pursue a career in education, like her mother and older sister. This decision led her to Berry College in Rome, Georgia where she graduated in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in education. After graduating, she moved to Ball Ground, Georgia where she began her first-year teaching as a Home Economics teacher at Ball Ground Elementary. The city of Ball Ground, and Cherokee County, is where the rest of her successful life’s story would be written.

Shortly after moving to Ball Ground, Dot met Joe Brown Whitfield. They were married on October 20, 1950 and welcomed two children in 1951 and later 1960. Throughout their life together, they resided in the community of Macedonia.

Dot was very successful as an educator of Cherokee County. She taught for 36 years as a Home Economics, Georgia History and English teacher. She taught at Ball Ground Elementary, Cherokee High School (when the school first opened in 1956), Free Home Elementary and Macedonia Elementary. Yes, she taught her students academics, but most importantly, she encouraged them, loved them, and taught them vital life lessons that still hold true to them today. She was the epitome of the phrase, “The influence of a good teacher can never be erased.”

Although, Dorothy Whitfield was much more than an educator. She was a wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved others whole heartedly and always made sure people knew they were important to her and loved immensely. She was an active member of Macedonia Baptist Church where she and her family attended and continue to do so. She loved animals, specifically Siamese cats, bird watching, her favorite sighting being those of hummingbirds, and gardening. It is also known that she could complete a cross word puzzle like no other. She loved to laugh and had the most contagious, yet simple smile. She had so much pride in her family and the fact that many in it were and are public servants like firefighters, police officers, nurses, educators, and members of the military.

Dot is proceeded in death by and now reunited with her parents, Gordon and Mary Roberts, her brother Gordon Roberts, sister Mary Ann Hammontree, and her husband of 37 years, Joe Whitfield. She is survived by her children Bob Whitfield (Janice) and Alicia Price (Joey); grandchildren Tiffany Allred, Todd Whitfield (Pedro), Trent Whitfield (Sierra), and Whitney Zapeta (Manny); great-grandchildren Hayden Allred, Sam Allred, Kaylynn Whitfield, Weston Whitfield, and Max Zapeta; several nieces and nephews; and her caregiver Melanie Kent (Greg) and family.

Service arrangements are being handled and conducted by the staff of South Canton Funeral Home in Canton, Georgia. Visitation for Mrs. Dorothy will be held on September 11, 2023, from 3 PM to 8 PM and September 12, 2023, from 10 AM until the funeral hour. Her memorial service will take place at the Chapel of South Canton Funeral Home on September 12, 2023, at 2 PM where Pastors Bobby Padgett and Terry Caylor will lead. She will then be laid to rest by her beloved Joe at Cherokee Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either the Macedonia Baptist Church general fund or Give a Kid a Chance in Dot’s memory as both honor her love for the Lord and the children of Cherokee County.

To learn more about the Give a Kid a Chance Organization and to donate if you feel led, please visit giveakidachance.org.

South Canton Funeral Home, dedicated to the families we serve, 770-479-3377. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.thescfh.com