Dot Hatchett

1927 - 2015

Dorothy Ann Roberts Hatchett

Yazoo City

Dorothy Ann Roberts Hatchett, affectionately known as "Dot" to her friends and family, died on February 20, 2015, surrounded by family at her son, Richard's home in Daphne, Alabama.

She was 87 years old, and had been a long-time resident of Yazoo City and Yazoo County, Mississippi, having lived there since 1945. Dot was born on June 10, 1927 in Jackson, Mississippi to Willie Blanning Roberts and Jesse Larkin Roberts. She grew up during the Great Depression, which clearly shaped her values and her sense of personal responsibility.

At the age of four, on New Year's Eve, 1931, Dot and her family left Mississippi for Brock, Nebraska where her father hoped to find gainful employment. The family moved several more times during her youth to a series of small towns - Palmyra and Beatrice, Nebraska; Geneseo and Bushton, Kansas - before finally settling in Hooper, Nebraska in 1941 where Dot attended and graduated from Hooper High School.

She married Richard Jones "Dick" Hatchett, Jr. (of Holly Bluff, Mississippi) on March 1, 1944 in Salt Lake City, Utah and then lived in Tonopah, Nevada, where he was stationed during World War II. The couple had been introduced by their mothers, Jesse Roberts and Tressie Hatchett, who had been close friends at Hillman College (Mississippi College). Dot had visited Holly Bluff as a guest of Tressie, at the encouragement of her mother, with the purpose of staying in touch with her Mississippi "roots." Having met Dick, their friendship grew through letter-writing which eventually blossomed into romance and marriage.

In 1945 Dot moved to Holly Bluff, Mississippi to live with her in-laws, Richard and Tressie Hatchett, while her husband was deployed to the Philippines in anticipation of the invasion of Japan. After the war, they settled in Holly Bluff and began a family, having two sons there, Richard (1945) and David (1947). In 1955 they moved to Yazoo City and a year later had a third son, Paul. Dot lived in her original home on Jackson Avenue until 2010. At her core, Dot was sensible and responsible, and as a result of her experience during the Great Depression, an inherently frugal wife and mother. She had a keen intelligence and disciplined nature. She was also loyal and hard-working, and took great pride in her employment at Mississippi Chemical Corporation, first as a secretary and later as an administrative assistant. She was employed there for over 30 years from the late 1950s to the early 1990s.

Through her example, Dot instilled the values of discipline, hard work, and personal responsibility in her sons and other members of her family. At the same time, Dot was a warm, friendly and extremely empathetic individual.

She also possessed a quick wit and dry sense of humor. She loved a good conversation and enjoyed spending time with family, friends and neighbors, clearly putting a premium on the idea of being a good neighbor. In addition, she loved to read and was especially fond of keeping abreast of current events by reading her daily newspaper. She passed her love of reading and learning down to her children and grandchildren. Her Christian faith, and membership in First Baptist Church of Yazoo City, played a central role in her life. She served as a longtime Sunday School teacher (and Superintendent for the 9-10-year-old age group) and was a longstanding member of the Women's Missionary Union.

Dot was conscientious and committed to Christian service, in particular to the youth, elderly and underprivileged. She regularly lent a helping hand to those in need, and loved tutoring underprivileged youth in literacy programs for public school students. Later in life, she enjoyed visiting and teaching Sunday School at the Martha Coker Nursing Home, or providing transportation to church for those who could not attend on their own. She was a valued and appreciated member of her community.

Visitation Saturday at 1st Baptist Church 1:00 - 2:00 P.M. with a memorial service at 2:00 P.M