Helen Elizabeth Dorsett

DORSETT , Helen Elizabeth ("Bettye") On February 27, 2007, at Oak Crest Village in Parkville, MD, HELEN ELIZABETH ("Bettye") DORSETT, a Baltimore City Public Schools teacher, supervisor and principal. She was the daughter of the late Telfiar Bowie Dorsett and Helen Elizabeth Jeffery Dorsett, dairy farmers of Beallsville, MD. Born in Washington, D.C., on March 22, 1927, she spent her childhood in Upper Marlboro, Prince Georges County, graduating from Upper Marlboro High School in 1944. Employment at the General Accounting Office in Washington, D.C., followed her graduation. In 1946, she entered University of Maryland, College Park, graduating in 1950 with degrees in sociology and economics. She returned to government work but moved in 1954, to intern in Baltimore City Schools. By 1957, she was supervising students, teachers at Montebello Elementary School and teaching demonstrations lessons on television. She was promoted to Specialist in 1964 and earned her Masters Degree in Education at Towson State College in 1966. In 1969, she became Assistant Principal of City Springs Elementary School, and was promoted to principal in 1974. Two years later, she was transferred to Principal of Hazelwood Elementary School from which she retired in 1984. Her Dorsett ancestry traces back to Jamestown, VA, where Captain Thomas Graves arrived in 1608. She descends from many Colonial legislators in Southern Maryland including Richard Bennett, appointed by Oliver Cromwell as Governor of Maryland and Virginia 1652 - 1655. Another ancestor, Alexander Magruder, born 1610 in Scotland, died in Prince Georges Co. 1677. Bettye's grandfather, William Newman Dorsett, was one of the American Clan Gregor Society founders in 1906. She often attended these annual, national Scottish conventions. She was predeceased by her siblings Barbara Dorsett Wells, William Newman Dorsett and Thomas Somervel Dorsett and his wife Mary Frances. Never married, Bettye is survived by nine nieces and their families: Robert and Pamela Wells MacKenzie, of Ellicott City, MD; William and Leslie Wells Flanigan, of Clarksville, MD; Bernard and Deborah Wells Nolan, of Upper Marlboro, MD; Gene and Martha Wells Appleby, of Middletown, MD; Marjorie Dorsett King, of Hedgesville, MD; Mary Dorsett Prichard, of Hedgesville, WV; Carol Dorsett, of Frederick, MD, Michael and Elizabeth Dorsett Creaghan, of Mt. Airy; Christine Dorsett, of Poolesville, MD and cousins, Robert Rawlings, of Clarksburg, WV and Lauren Fleming. She is survived by her grandnieces and nephews, Clinton Appleby, Andrew MacKenzie, Kelly MacKenzie, Brian Flanigan, Collin Flanigan, Katherine Flanigan, Alice Beach Wachter, Samuel Price, Jr., Paul Prichard and Tyler Dorsett. Her grand-nieces were Megan Wachter and Ashee Painter.
A Memorial Service will be held at Oak Crest Village Worship Center at 8810 Walther Blvd., Parkville, MD, on March 22, 2007, at 1 P.M. The urn interment will be held at the Monocacy Cemetery in Beallsville, MD at a private ceremony. Contributions can be made to the American Alzheimer's Association or the National Teacher's Association. The family owned Evans Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services - Parkville, 8800 Harford Road, is in charge of arrangements.