Dodie STOCKTON

1934 - 2016

STOCKTON, Dodie Theodora "Dodie" Owens Black Stockton, 81, of Marietta, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 1, 2016. Dodie was born in Atlanta on December 6, 1934 to the former Theodora Owens and Charles H. Black, Jr. Growing up she attended the E. Rivers School and Washington Seminary. It was during Dodie's early life that she developed her genteel manner, her grace and her talents in golf, horsemanship and art. These characteristics and interests would remain with her throughout her life. Dodie learned to play golf as a little girl. Her next-door neighbor, golf legend Bobby Jones, taught her how to chip in the back yard of his home. Dodie went on to be a champion golfer herself, winning the Atlanta Women's Amateur Golf Championship three times and the Georgia Women's Amateur Golf Championship one time. Those accomplishments led to Dodie being made an honorary member of the Capital City Club. Dodie continued to enjoy and to play golf almost daily until the last year of her life. Dodie became a real estate agent, broker, builder and developer. Immersed in the "horse world", Dodie bred and trained champion Saddlebreds at her barn in Kennesaw. She and her daughters enjoyed many summers riding and traveling throughout the southeast showing their horses. As a native Atlantan, many of Dodie's friendships were with lifelong friends. One such friendship was with Ham Stockton. Ham had the privilege of being Dodie's first "real" date as a teenager. Years later she and Ham would rekindle their friendship and, in 1992, become husband and wife. She and Ham lived life to the fullest, sharing their love of family, friends, golf, travel, the lake, art and more. Dodie's family will always remember her optimism, devotion and love. Dodie is survived by her husband, Hamilton "Ham" Stockton, Jr; her daughters Sherry Garlington Brownlee of Sonora, KY and Julie Garlington of Marietta; granddaughters Meredith LaBarge of Huntsville, AL and Mallory Caroline Nunn of Sonora, KY; and great-granddaughter Kaylee Grace Nunn of Sonora, KY. Dodie is also survived by her stepson Hamilton "Chip" Stockton, III (Anne) of Atlanta; her stepdaughter-in-law Kristin Stockton of Atlanta; 5 step-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren. Dodie was preceded in death by her brother Charles H. Black, III and by her stepson Clifford Courtney Stockton. A Memorial Service will be held at The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30305 on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. The family asks that memorial donations be made in Dodie's name to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, 34 Washington St., STE 200, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481. An online donation page is available at http://curealz.org/in-memory/theodora-black-stockton. As Dodie would say, "Isn't that wonderful!"