Dorothy “Dot” Hooker, a beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, peacefully passed away on January 6, 2024, at the age of 94 at Christian Care Center in Medina, TN.
She was born on November 25, 1929, the daughter of the late Arthur Dratin Jasper and Ora Louise Bell Strickland.
Dot had a fulfilling career serving in various capacities with Shoney’s of Jackson, TN. Her dedication and hard work were evident throughout her years of service. She retired in 1982 as the Dining Room Supervisor and left a lasting impact on her colleagues and the community she served.
Known for her warm heart and cheerful spirit, Dot always greeted everyone with a smile and had a contagious laugh that could brighten up any room. She was a woman who found joy in the simple pleasures of life and cherished every moment spent with her family. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who showered her loved ones with endless love and support.
Dot and her late husband Preston moved from Jackson to Mercer, purchasing a farm to make a dream come true, where they renovated an older home and raised horses for many years. They later moved back to Jackson and back to their former house. They were faithful members of Poplar Heights Baptist Church and Mercer Baptist Churches. In her leisure time, Dot enjoyed playing golf for many years. The sport brought her immense happiness and allowed her to connect with others who shared her passion for the game. In her high school years Dot was a member of the basketball team and enjoyed being a member of the Shoney’s Bowling team. Additionally, she had an unwavering love for music of all types and found solace in reading books that transported her to different worlds. Above all else, caring for her family was Dot’s true calling.
Dot will forever be remembered for her unwavering love and dedication to her family. Her proudest accomplishment in life was being there for them through thick and thin. Dot leaves behind a legacy of love that will forever be engraved in the hearts of her children, Richard Gilmer Westmoreland and wife Donna of Ward, CO, Dennis Wayne Westmoreland and wife Linda of Southaven, MS, and Tammy Joy Westmoreland Brown and husband Scott of Jackson, TN, as well as her sisters, Margaret Byrd of Southaven, MS, and Betty Scott of Southaven, MS, seven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
SERVICES: A funeral services for Dot will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 12, 2024, in the chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors, with Father Wayne Timby officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens.
The family will be receiving friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m.
Pallbearers will be Dennis Westmoreland, Richard Westmoreland, Scott Brown, Nick Flanagan, Ryan Flanagan and David Jones.
Memorial contributions can be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org.
Dot’s impact on the lives she touched will never be forgotten. She will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. May her soul find eternal peace.
