Dorothy Preuit Naughton, passed away peacefully on November 4th with family members at her bedside. A memorial service will be held on November 9th (Thursday) at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will follow the service. Reverend Susan Clayton will officiate. Burial will follow on November 10th at the King Cemetery in Leighton, AL at 1:00 p.m. John’s Ridout’s Funeral Parlors of Birmingham in charge.
Dorothy was born on February 4, 1934, in Leighton, AL to Mildred Armene Fennel Preuit and Leonard Sadler Preuit. She was a member of one of Colbert County’s pioneer families. Dorothy grew up riding horses and driving her father around the cotton fields in his truck. At an early age, she developed a lifelong love of pets (dogs, cats, guinea pigs, chickens and ducks) She represented North Alabama in the Miss Alabama Pageant and served as Maid of Cotton in 1951. Dorothy graduated from Colbert County High School in 1952.
Dorothy attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and after one year transferred to Auburn University, where she graduated in 1956 with a degree in Art. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
On February 8, 1958, after living in New York City for a year, and attending Parson’s School of Design on a scholarship she won in the Miss Alabama Contest, Dorothy was married to Albert Stephen Naughton of Birmingham, who had just received his Air Force Pilot Wings. They exchanged vows in the Tuscumbia Catholic Church. After their honeymoon in Jamaica, the couple made their home in Birmingham and raised a son (Stephen), and daughter (Joan).
Dorothy enjoyed being active in civic duties and community affairs to include Junior League of Birmingham, National Society of Colonial Dames, Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Confederacy, Birmingham Museum of Arts, Birmingham Women’s Committee of 100, the Gourmet Club, and the Little Club. She was an active member of Independent Presbyterian Church where she served on the Flower Guild for many years.
Dorothy’s love of flower arranging led to forming a business, Imagination, Inc. which she ran with her partner, Betty Drennen for years, creating beautiful arrangements for weddings, parties and special events. She loved fashion, her elegant ensembles were often recounted in the Birmingham News. The Naughton’s found great joy in home gardening and entertaining at their home, where cheese straws were always served.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, and sister, Mildred Fennel Preuit Mauldin and brother-in-law, Edward Fennel Mauldin.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Albert Stephen Naughton, her daughter Joan Naughton Sanders and her husband John of Tupelo, and their children, Sadler Sanders Hughes (Connor), and great-grandson John Fox Hughes of Huntsville, Evans Sanders Lee (Jack) of Little Rock, and John Rutledge Sanders, III of Tupelo, her son Albert Stephen Naughton, Jr, and his wife, Whitney of Auburn, Albert Stephen Naughton, III (Lexie) and great-grandson Cannon Stephen Naughton of Dothan, Alice Lee Naughton Konstant (Thomas George) of Auburn and their child Olivia Jane Naughton of Auburn, her nephews, Edward Fennel Mauldin (Evie) of Leighton, Leonard Preuit Mauldin (Becky) of Florence and their children, Ruth Mauldin of New York, Anne Mauldin Osborne (Keaton) of Leighton, Macke Buchanan Mauldin (Kim) of Florence and their children, Hallie Preuit Mauldin of Florence and Macke Buchanan Mauldin, Jr. of Auburn, and cousin Mark Lile Fennel of Leighton. A special thank you to Jackie Wanjiku for her love, care and kindness over the years.
Memorials in her honor may be made to the Children’s Fresh Air Farm, 501 Park Avenue, Hoover, AL 35226 (205) 822-0150 or to a charity of your choice.
The family wishes to thank all that shared in Dorothy’s amazing life.
