Ellen Cheek Dozier

Ellen Cheek Dozier
DURHAM -- Mrs. Ellen Cheek Dozier, 91, of The Forest at Duke died October 7, 2011. Mrs. Dozier was a Durham native born on November 16, 1919. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Leonard Cheek and Lottie Mangum Cheek of Durham.
She attended Durham City Schools and was a member of the class of 1937 at Durham High School. She attended the University of North Carolina in Greensboro then called Woman's College of the University of North Carolina.
She was a life-long member of Duke Memorial United Methodist Church. She was in the Minnie P. Gates Sunday school class, a member of the Altar Guild, a member of Circle Nine and she was corresponding secretary of the United Methodist Women.
She was a member of the Garden Study Club and a volunteer at the Veterans Hospital.
When Mrs. Dozier moved to The Forest at Duke in 1992 she was one of their first residents and thus called 'Pioneer'. She was a member of the Forest Singers and a contributor to the publication The Forester. She was a prolific writer of verse.
She was a life member of the Historical Preservation Society of Durham and a proud relative of James W. Cheek, the first Mayor of Durham, Hugh Leonard Mangum, whose historic photographs can be seen at the Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography at West Point on the Eno River, and her uncle Leo Mangum, a former professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, New York Giants, and Boston Braves where he was a teammate and friend of Babe Ruth.
She was married to the late Walter Joseph Dozier originally of Richmond, Virginia. She was predeceased by her sister Dorothy Frances Cheek and brothers; Thomas Leonard Cheek Jr., and Herbert Nash Cheek. She is survived by a brother, James Buchanan Cheek and his wife, Suzanne, of Spruce Pines, and two sisters Marion Cheek Sears of Winston Salem, Sarah Cheek Hockenjos of Colorado Springs, CO.
Mrs. Dozier is survived by her children; Ann Dozier Michael and husband Revell, of Alexandria, Virginia; Walter Joseph Dozier Jr. and wife Saribeth, of Charlotte and Maryellen Dozier Stone and husband Bill, of Durham.
She is survived by her grandchildren; John Harrison Marino Jr., and wife Etta and Southerlyn Marino Reisig, all of Alexandria, Sarah Elizabeth Dozier of New York City, and Mary Margaret Dozier of Big Bear City, California; a step granddaughter, Julie Stone Dodge and husband Tim, of Durham; five great-grandsons; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces and great-great nephews.
A celebration of Mrs. Dozier's life will be held at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church at 10:30 a.m., on Monday October 17, officiated by Rev. Roger Owens. Interment will be at Maplewood Cemetery in the Dozier family gravesite. Pallbearers will be: Jay Marino, Hunter Martin, Tim Dodge, Trent Wall, Rex Michael and Ray Stephens.
Following the services, the family will receive friends at The Forest at Duke from 12:30 until 2:00 p.m.
Please consider that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the Benevolent Fund at The Forest at Duke, 2701 Pickett Road Durham 27705.
Howerton & Bryan Funeral Home is assisting the Dozier family. Online condolences may be sent to www.howertonbryan.com.