Ms. Dorothy Tyson

Dorothy Lee Lewis Tyson passed away Wednesday evening on January 8, 2025 in Greenville NC at the age of 80 years old. Dorothy was born March 31, 1944 in Nash County, NC to the late John and Mamie Lewis. She was the eldest of eight siblings: John L Lewis Jr, James Earl Lewis, Jenny "Nelle" Lewis Rogers, Theresa Diane Lewis Little, Debra Yvonne Lewis, Terry Wayne Lewis, and Michael Earl Lewis. She also had an older sister, Lillie Ward. In 1966, she met and married her love, Willie Cornelius Tyson. This union produced three children: Joann Marie Tillery, Gregory Cornelius Tyson, and Christy Michelle Tyson.
Dorothy first learned of The Truth approximately around 1973 from Mr. and Mrs. McCarter. As a result, she began studying the bible off and on for many years with various Witnesses including: Louise McCarter, Pauline Brown and her sister Jenny Nelle Rogers. For years, Nelle would come by on Sundays to pick up Dorothy and the children for the meeting at the Kingdom Hall. This eventually led to her husband, Willie, becoming interested in learning about Jehovah, although initially, very skeptical. Together, they started a diligent study of the bible and were both baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on April 17, 1999. Dorothy served Jehovah faithfully until her death. She took every opportunity to share the Good News with anyone who would listen. She loved sharing her many favorite bible verses such as Revelation 21:1-5 and Isaiah 33:24 And no resident will say:"I am sick," The people dwelling in the land will be pardoned for their error.
In her earlier years, Dorothy lived in Washington DC for a short time working as a nanny and housekeeper. She talked about the various concerts she would attend on Howard University's campus. When she returned to North Carolina she met Willie Cornelius Tyson and after a brief courtship they were married on August 22, 1966. They remained married for 50 years, until his death February 20, 2017. Dorothy continued doing housekeeping and nanny work before she transitioned to factory work. She worked in the textile industry for many years, serving 43 of those years at FieldCrest Cannon/Mohawk Industries. She operated machinery that would ultimately create luxury carpets/rugs. Dorothy retired in 2013. Not only was she a hard worker outside the home, she was inside as well. Much of Dorothy's life was devoted to her husband and children. She would be up late nights preparing and making sure everyone had what they needed for work and school. She took pride in caring for them and her home. Even after the passing of her husband she tried to keep the yard maintained. She would be out in the yard, dressed to the nines with a rake while pulling up weeds.
Dorothy loved her mother, Mamie, dearly. They would talk on the phone for hours, on a regular basis. Although Dorothy never obtained her driver's license, that didn't curb her appetite for hitting the road. She loved to ride...long country drives, visiting with her siblings or spontaneous trips to DC to visit her favorite Aunt, the late Aunt HattieMae Coley. Dorothy loved to travel, visiting Jamaica, Bahamas, and Mexico. She also enjoyed music, specifically the blues.
It was her routine to be fully dressed with heels and her lipstick on before some have had their coffee. This was Dorothy. She always wanted to be "ready" just in case. If she wasn't with her husband, she'd surely be with her daughter JoAnn in and about town shopping, visiting, and eating her favorite things. Dorothy was a little shy, reserved and soft spoken at times, but would always have encouraging words to say.
She is preceded in death by: Her parents: John L Lewis, Mamie Brody Lewis. Siblings: John L Lewis Jr, James Earl Lewis, Michael Earl Lewis, Lillie Ward, Jenny Nelle Rodgers, Debra Yvonne Lewis.
She is survived by: Her children: JoAnn Marie Tillery, Gregory Cornelius Tyson, and Christy Michelle Tyson; five grandchildren: Emani Phillips, Zykeia Tyson, Kayla Nicole Terry, Narkievon Tyson and Trayvione Tyson; Siblings: Theresa Diane Little, Terry Wayne Lewis; Two Sister-in-laws: Ada Grace Smith, Amanda Odessa Cooper; a host of very special nieces, nephews, and friends that treasure her memory and long to see her again.