Gail Gaither Dobbins

Gail Gaither Dobbins, 78, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away peacefully in her home after a long illness. Gail was a proud Gemini, eldest child of Jack Leo Gaither and Miriam Keltner Gaither, and sister to Jack Leo Gaither, Jr. Gail is survived by two children: Hamlett Dobbins, III and Heather Dobbins. She is a beloved grandmother to Milla Meiman, Allie Dobbins, Rainer Combs, Ansel Gerard, Josiah Gerard, and Jackie Gerard.

A graduate of Treadwell High School (1964) and the University of Memphis (in 2003 with more than twice the necessary number of credits required for graduation), she was often deemed a warrior with a winsome smile. Gail was known for her charm and generosity. She maintained close friendships and could be counted on for advice and hand-made birthday cards-collages made from photos and images that had been gathered with care throughout the year for the intended.

Gail worked for the Internal Revenue Service and later as an office administrator at the University of Memphis and UTHSC. As a fiber artist and ceramicist in her early adulthood, Gail fit right into the University of Memphis Department of Art where she worked as an administrative assistant during the 1990s. Through work, Gail forged lifelong friendships with her colleagues, especially at LeBonheur. After retiring, she was able to pursue her joys with wild abandon: reading, traveling the world, enjoying her friends and family, visiting art galleries, watching raunchy television shows, listening to live music, working in her Frayser garden, viewing birds in her backyard, eating good food, and drinking coffee or wine from her friends' pottery.

Services will be held at Canale Funeral Directors Friday October 4, 2024, Visitation begins at 11:00 AM with Funeral Service to follow at 12:00 PM.

The family requests that memorials be sent to Overton Park Conservancy. As one of 42 first cousins, Gail had cherished memories of playing at Overton Park as a child.