Mrs. Dorothy “Dottie” Sink Perry, of Amelia Island, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on Saturday evening, May 13, 2017.
Dottie was born June 10, 1920, in Winston-Salem, N.C., to the late Frank and Eva Willard Sink. A vibrant and determined young woman, she started at Duke University at the ripe age of 16, where she was a member of the Phi Mu sorority. After graduating from the university with a bachelor’s degree in 1941, Dottie married her high school sweetheart, Donald Graham Perry Sr., who was a fellow Blue Devil. The two moved to Greenville, S.C., in 1948, where her husband, “Big Don” or “Poppo,” was an executive in the trucking industry. While Mr. Perry worked for McLean Trucking, Mrs. Perry was kept busy at home raising three perfect boys, whom she loved very much. In 1981, Big Don retired, and he and Dottie moved to Amelia Island Plantation, where they would both spend the remainder of their lives.
While many knew Mrs. Perry as “Dottie,” to her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was always “Grandy.” They all loved going down to Amelia Island in the summer and working on their golf swings with their grandmother. Dottie had an immense love for golf and bridge and loved spending time with friends as well. You could always catch her smiling, especially when she was with her three boys. After her husband’s death in 1987, she lived independently in their home at Amelia Island Plantation for more than 30 years. One of Dottie’s favorite memories was a golf trip she took with her sons to Scotland. During that trip, Dottie sunk a long putt on the 18th hole at St. Andrews to make par.
Those who knew her will always remember her by some of her favorite expressions, “Bless his little heart!”, “Didn’t we have fun!”, “Run along and play!” and “My boys are perfect!”
The Perrys were members of Amelia Plantation Chapel, an Interdenominational Community Church.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her youngest son, Charles Ruckel Perry Sr.
Mrs. Perry is survived by her sons, Donald Graham Perry Jr. (Sherrill) of Atlanta, and Frank Willard Perry (Suzette) of Dallas; daughter-in-law, Ann Upshaw Perry of Atlanta; grandchildren, Donald Graham Perry III, Margaret Parham Holt, David Schuyler Holt Jr., Frank Willard Perry Jr., Graham Clifford Perry, Isabella Perry, Megan McKissick, Meredith Creecy, Charles Ruckel Perry Jr., John Wesley Perry, Addison Upshaw Perry and Amelia Ann Perry; and her great-grandchildren, Logan Perry, Elizabeth Perry, Catherine Perry, Olivia McKissick, Abbie McKissick, Poppy McKissick, Jack Creecy, Hayley Creecy and Kendall Creecy.
A memorial funeral service will be held at Amelia Plantation Chapel, with Pastor Ted Schroder officiating, on a future date to be announced.
Mrs. Perry will be laid to rest beside her husband at Forsyth Memorial Park in Winston-Salem.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors