Charles Ellis Dorris

1932 - 2016

Dec. 22, 1932 - June 2, 2016 Dr. Charles E. Dorris passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 2, 2016, in Saint Paul, MN. He was 83 years old. For the last 6 years, Charles was living at Sunlight Senior Living Facility, along with the care of his two children, Jennifer and Dake. For the last 6 months, he was under the additional care of St. Croix Hospice. Charles and his wife Carolyn, lived in Birmingham, AL from 1968 to June 2002. Charles was the eldest of three children born to his parents: Ellis Graden and Jennie Ellen Houck Dorris, in Booneville, MS. He attended Coffee High School, in Florence, AL, before getting his Bachelor's degree at Howard College (Samford University). He then earned his Master's of Divinity (1956) and eventual Doctorate of Ministries degree, at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Dr. Dorris began his ministry in Tupelo, MS, at Harrisburg Baptist Church. He and his growing family then moved to Crystal Springs, MS and Magee, MS, where he was a Minister of Music and Education. In 1968, Charles and his family moved to Birmingham, AL. While there, he was a beloved Minister of Youth at: McElwain Baptist Church and then at Huffman Baptist Church, along with then becoming Minister of Adult Education. His last ministerial residency, was as Minister of Adult Education, at Green Valley Baptist Church, in Hoover, AL. He retired in 1996, after 40 years of Loving Service in the Ministry. Charles was preceded in death by: his brother, Harold; his parents, Graden and Jennie Ellen; his sister Joan, and more recently his beloved wife, Carolyn Dacus Dorris (2006). Charles is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Carol Dorris (St. Paul, MN), and by his son, David Dacus "Dake" Dorris (Minneapolis, MN). He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Alicia Dacus Stigler and her husband Jim Stigler (Birmingham); as well as by his neice, Suzanne Stigler Martin and family (Birmingham); and by his nephew, Sam Stigler (Denver, CO). Dake and Jennifer are planning to hold a tribute/memorial to their father, Charles, in Birmingham later in the Fall. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, the American Diabetes Association or the charity of your choice. As often quoted by Charles: "...One's LIFE may be brief while here on earth, but like a shooting star, 'My, wasn't it BRIGHT while it LASTED...". Shine On, Charles Dorris.