Dorothy Mae Wilkerson

Dorothy Mae Wilkerson, “Mother of the Community,” being blessed with 98 years on this earth, received her Heavenly reward on February 28, 2024, at the Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital.

Ms. Dot, as most affectionately referred, was born on January 25, 1926, in Lynch, Kentucky.   She had worked as a custodian in the janitorial department for the Lynch Clinic, Harlan Daniel Boone Clinic, Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital, Creech Motor Company, a cook for the Lynch Country Club, running her own business, which specialized in her homemade candy and caramel apples, among other jobs.  She provided a foundation of strength for her family and was known as quite the historian, witnessing the rise and fall of times.   She enjoyed sharing her stories, while working as a maid at the Sheraton Suites in New York City.  There, she met and became friends with Jackie Gleason and other famous people.  Ms. Dot was a Pillar of our Community.  She had a long life, long memory, and a lot of love in her heart.  She was known for being a superb cook.  The food she prepared, especially her baked ham, looked as if it belonged in a cooking magazine.    If you were fortunate enough to sit down to one of her scrumptious meals and to hear one of her own real-life adventures, you knew you were blessed and would be entertained for hours.

Dorothy gave her life to Christ as an early age and attended the Goode A.M.E. Temple in Lynch, until services were no longer held there.  She then began visiting the Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, where she asked Pastor Ronnie Hampton to baptize her.   She was eager to go in the water and with his help, she did just that.  Ms. Dot was a blessing and a gracious woman of God. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Dora Bailey Chapman, loving husband, Samuel Maceo Wilkerson, sons, Earl Smith, Tyrone “Chico” Bailey, daughters, Geraldine Chapman, Dorethea Gonzales, Georgeanne Chapman, Juanita Wilkerson, Alberta Safewright, Hazel Wilkerson, Juanita Cook, Ella Bea Webb, brothers, Roland Chapman, Eugene Dobson, Richard Chapman, Roosevelt Taylor, James Bailey, William Chapman, sister, Penola Chapman.

She leaves to carry on her memory, son, James “Donnie” Wilkerson of Lynch, Kentucky, daughter, Schieffon Bateman of Cumberland, Kentucky, a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren,
great- great grandchildren, other relatives, friends and the entire community that looked to her for guidance and wisdom.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 9th, 2024, at the Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Lynch, Kentucky beginning at 11 a.m. with Funeral Services following at 12 noon with Pastor Ronnie Hampton officiating.

2nd Timothy 4:7

 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Johnson Funeral Home is Honored to Serve the Wilkerson Family and ask that you keep them in your prayers.

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