Rozelle Eckford "Rockie" Dinwiddie

Rozelle "Rockie" Eckford Dinwiddie

Mrs. Rozelle "Rockie" Eckford Dinwiddie of Augusta, Georgia, died on Saturday, January 8, 2011, at Brandon Wilde in Evans, Georgia.

Memorial services will be held at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church 2 p.m. Saturday, January 22, 2011, with the Reverend Leslie Holmes officiating.

Mrs. Dinwiddie was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-eight years, Doctor J. Gray Dinwiddie.

Her survivors include two sons, Stephen G. and his wife, Lesley C. Dinwiddie, and George R. and his wife, Gail D. Dinwiddie; two daughters, Martha D. and her husband, Fordyce H. Mason and Susan D. and husband, Dr. William C. Small; one brother, Jason I. Eckford; two sisters, Margaret E. Smith and Dorothy E. Wooster; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Dinwiddie grew up in Portsmouth and Charlottesville, Virginia. For a time during World War II, she served as a volunteer in the American Red Cross Motor Corps while also working as a bank teller and accountant. After their marriage, she moved with her husband to Clemson, South Carolina, where he was a professor of chemistry. In 20 years there, she was very active in her church as a Sunday school teacher and crib nursery caregiver, Troop Leader and Consultant for the Girl Scouts organization, the YMCA summer day camp, and other community activities.

In 1968, she moved to Augusta, Georgia, where her husband was the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Augusta College. There she was very involved in Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church serving again in the crib nursery for 17 years, was ordained as a Ruling Elder in 1982, and was honored in 1994 with Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership. Along with her husband Gray, she volunteered full time with Habitat for Humanity for eight years as treasurer, head of acquisitions, and builder as well as The Georgia Partners Association.

They were both awarded the Town and Gown Award in 1987 and the Augusta State University President's Award in 1999. She also served as treasurer for the Friends of the Augusta Library and for the Augustans Together for which she was honored with the Outstanding Service Award in 2000. Throughout Dean Dinwiddie's tenure, she organized, prepared, and hosted large dinner parties introducing new college faculty. Furthermore, she designed and made the prototype for the official flag for the city of Augusta. She and Gray supported and chaperoned the Augusta College Jazz Ensemble and the Chamber Choir as well as generally supporting other arts groups in Augusta.

Mrs. Dinwiddie's family extends sincere thanks to Janet Petersen and her select group of dedicated caregivers who cared for her so diligently in her final months.

If so desired, memorials may be made to the Dinwiddie Scholarship fund at Augusta State University, c/o Helen Hendee, 2500 Walton Way, Maxwell Alumni House, Augusta, GA 30904 or to Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 2261 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904.

The family will receive friends immediately following the memorial service in the Fellowship Hall.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.