Marquis D. Dotson, Sr.

Marquis deLafayette Dotson Sr . age 94 passed Thursday March 12, 2020 in a Franklin, TN healthcare Facility. He was a longtime member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church (Athens) where he served as chairman of the deacon board and Sunday School teacher of the adult class for many years. He retired from Bowater Paper Mill in Calhoun, after being employed for 37 years. He was a corporal in the United States Air Force where he bravely served with the 99 ^th Fighter Squadron out of Tuskegee University. Marquis was an active member in the community, he demonstrated his immense leadership skills as a member of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of Tennessee. He was a 32 ^nd Degree Mason and a past District Deputy Grand Master.

Marquis graduated third in his 1945 graduating class from J.L. Cook School in Athens. In 1948 he graduated from Gupton-Jones College (Nashville) where he received his advanced degree in Mortuary Science. Immediately following his graduation, he founded Dotson’s Funeral Home in Athens, TN and later expanded into Cleveland, TN. He was an active member of the NAACP as the chairman of the educational committee and is the former president of the McMinn County chapter. He served as president and chairman of the Tennessee State Funeral Directors and Morticians Association. He enjoyed hunting and raising beagles. He was well known in the communities that he served and known for his strong character and selfless good works.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter Eugene Dotson and Estella Vashti Vaught, and his loving wife of fifty-two years, Virginia Jo Westfield Dotson, two sisters, Alva Fields & Rosa Green, four brothers, Lincoln, Otis, Eugene, & Malcolm Dotson, grandson, Austin Jerel Dotson.

Survivors include his loving children, Marquis D. (Alma) Dotson, Jr.; Pamela V. (Robert) Bright; Taunya Kay (Anthony) Robinson; Tyrone (Lisa) Dotson; Walter (Jill) Dotson. Fourteen grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. One sister-in-law, Joyce Dotson, and one brother-in-law, James Fields. Several devoted nephews and nieces, and several special friends that knew him as “Chief”.

Homegoing services and celebration of life will be held at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 1:00 PM with Rev. Chris Eady officiating and Rev. Kenneth Scaife delivering the eulogy. Family visitation will be held one hour before the service, from 12 noon – 1 p.m. Family and friends may visit on Friday, March 20 from 1:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m., with family present from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. at M.D. Dotson & Sons Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 502 Congress Pkwy, Athens, TN.