HAMPSTEAD — Helen Ennis Dotson, 92 of Jacksonville, NC passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 11, 2024 in her home in Hampstead, NC.
Helen and Marshall had recently relocated to Hampstead to be closer to family.
Helen was born on July 1, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY to the proud parents of Elinor B. Ennis and James D. Ennis. Her mother Elinor was an RN and her father James was a CPA. At age 6 Helen’s mother passed away and the family moved to Charlotte, NC. She began attending Sacred Heart Academy at age 9. She was an only child until 11 years later when she was blessed with a brother, James D Ennis Jr, whom she adored.
Upon high school graduation from Sacred Heart, Helen entered Mercy School of Nursing, following in her mother’s footsteps. Both Sacred Heart and Mercy would shape Helen’s lifelong love of caring for and serving others. While at Mercy, Helen met lifelong friends and fellow nurses, who decided to move to Greensboro, NC together. While in Greensboro she worked at Moses Cone Hospital and as an OBGYN nurse.
In Greensboro she also met the love of her life, “Buddy,” Marshall F. Dotson Jr. They immediately fell in love and married within 6 months in August of 1957. Shortly after the wedding they moved to Winston Salem, NC, where Helen worked as a nurse while Marshall was in law school.
In 1960 they moved to Jacksonville, NC, and raised a beautiful family. Life in Jacksonville was good, with so many young families and friends. Helen enjoyed being a member of several clubs and service organizations, in particular St Anne’s Episcopal Church was dear to her heart throughout her life.
She was a survivor, strong, independent, thoughtful and creative, a loving wife and mother who adored her family and friends.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years Marshall F. Dotson of Hampstead, NC, her children: Deborah D. Bluestein (Michael) of Hampstead, NC, granddaughter Eleanor Bluestein of Wilmington, NC, Marsha D. Bonner (Jim) of Hampstead, granddaughter Alexandra O’Conner (Hugh), great grandsons Hugh and James O’Conner of TN, grandson J. Philip Bonner of Charlotte, NC, ‘Chip” Marshall F. Dotson III, (Denise) of Sophia, NC, grandson Marshall F. Dotson IV of Waterloo, SC and granddaughter Carlynn Dotson of Chapel Hill NC, Christopher Sullivan (Catie), great grandson Cameron Sullivan, of Sophia, and Olivia Henderson of Sophia. She is also survived by her brother James D. Ennis Jr of Sanford, NC. She will be missed by many.
A service will be held at St Anne’s Episcopal Church Columbarium, 711 Henderson Drive, Jacksonville, NC on Friday, December 20, 2024 at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
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