Dorothy Marie France-Davis was the first child born to Otis France and Lola Belle Martin France Lowe on December 3, 1936, in Patrick, VA. After the divorce of her parents, Dorothy spent her early years living with her maternal grandparents, Gentry and Pearl Martin. She started school at age 5 with her aunts, Essie (Waddell) and Patricia who were close in age, because her grandmother thought that it would be good for her to attend along with them.

Dorothy moved to Winston-Salem, NC after the union of Lola Belle and Marion Lowe. She attended 14th Street Elementary School and matriculated to Atkins High School where she graduated with honors. Shortly afterwards, she married James Davis and bore a daughter, Audrey Denise (Teri).

Dorothy always had a zeal for learning. She attended Star Stenographic School and was an excellent typist. Her typing skills landed her a new position at Western Electric Company at a time when few people of color worked in similar positions. As a young wife and mother, she worked nights while attending Winston Salem Teachers College (now Winston Salem State University) during the day. Required to work long hours at night coupled with being a mother and wife, she decided to quit her job at Western Electric to attend college full-time. Dorothy graduated from WSSU first in her class achieving the highest academic honor: Summa Cum Laude and crowned Miss WSSU in 1967, the first married woman in the history of the school.

Dorothy started her first teaching job at Atkins and afterwards worked for the Experiment in Self Reliance, a federally funded jobs program. She also enrolled at Wake Forest University to begin her studies towards her master's degree.

Dorothy and Teri moved to Baltimore, MD where she taught English in the Baltimore City Public School System for over thirty years. She was recognized as an outstanding

English teacher and fulfilled many leadership roles. She was selected to advise and lead other English teachers, write curricula, and oversee staff development in her field. She continued working after her retirement in the Baltimore Community College System teaching writing and literature. She also served as an adjunct professor at John Hopkins University and Morgan State University. Dorothy completed her master's degree at Loyola University and later began her pursuit of her PhD.

When Dorothy wasn't teaching, she enjoyed playing competitive tennis with her long-life partner, Raymond, enjoying spending time with her girlfriends and you guessed it, reading and learning.   She was also a long-time member of Douglas Memorial Community Church.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her daughter, Audrey (Teri); parents, Lola B. Lowe and Otis France; stepfather, Marion Lowe; maternal and paternal grandparents; sister, Camille Lowe Amaker; brothers, James D. Lowe and Jerry France.

She is survived by her long-life partner, Raymond Moore of Baltimore, MD; son-in-law, Melvin Gabriel and grandsons, James (Pookie) Jones and Denard Gabriel of Winston-Salem, NC; sisters, Marcia K. (Eric) Martin and Yvonne Imes of Winston-Salem, NC; Gloria Johnson and Shirley Wooten of Martinsville, VA; Juanita Martin of Lawrenceville, GA and Brenda France of University Place, WA; brothers, Otis France of Oxon Hill, MD; Joseph France and John France of Martinsville, VA and Larry France of Boerne, TX.

Also surviving are her aunts, Essie (Waddell) Linville and Patricia Martin of Winston-Salem, NC and Carrie Hill of Stuart, VA; great aunt, Nannie Sanders of Cleveland, OH and great uncle, Randal Straughter France of Westfield, NC.

Continuing the lineage are her great granddaughters Chloe and Quiana of Winston-Salem, NC and her great, great grandsons Bryant, Carter, and Kaison.

She is also survived by her very dear friend Suzanne Given of Baltimore, MD, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens.