Dorothy Leader
Dorothy Roberts Leader, a resident of Signal Mountain, died of pneumonia on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, in Memorial Hospital. She was 91 years old.
Her father, Curtis Roberts, was a physician stationed with the United Fruit Company in Nicaragua when he met and married Angelita Delgadillo, a native Nicaraguan. Following their marriage, the couple returned to Dr. Roberts’ home in Mississippi. Dorothy and her twin brother Curtis were born on July 15, 1926, in New Albany, Miss. Shortly after their birth, the family moved to Central America to live in Tela, Honduras.
In 1947 Dorothy earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and began a career as a flight attendant for Chicago and Southern Airlines. She was based in New Orleans and was assigned routes to Cuba and Central America. In 1949 she married William D. Leader. The couple moved to Chattanooga in 1953.
In 1962 Dorothy accepted a teaching position at Signal Mountain Elementary School. Her teaching career lasted until 2000, and included positions at Thrasher Elementary School and Signal Mountain Middle School. During her 39-year teaching career, she taught over 3,000 students, including children and grandchildren of former students. She worked to make every class interesting and important to each of her students. She said: “I believe every child can achieve in his own way, and I have devoted myself to finding that special path for each of them.” She loved every one of her students, respected them and was attentive to their individual needs.
Signal Mountain Middle High School continues to honor her by annually awarding the Dorothy Leader award to an outstanding history student. She was proud to be one of the first Master Teachers in Tennessee, teacher of the year, and a life time member of the PTA.
She was predeceased by her parents, Curtis McWhorter Roberts, M.D., and Angelita Delgadillo Roberts; brother, Curtis Delgadillo Roberts, M.D. (Betty, of Brandon Miss.); and husband, William Daniel Leader.
She is survived by her children, Dorothy Hallman, of Chattanooga, Bill Leader (Melanie), of Nashville, and Anne Reasons, of Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren, Anne Hallman McEniry (Jay), Elizabeth Hallman, Laura Reasons, Stuart Reasons (Jessica), Daniel Leader, John Leader, and Elizabeth Leader; and great-grandchildren, John McEniry, Elizabeth McEniry and Sutton Reasons.
There will be a visitation at the Parish Hall at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 630 Mississippi Avenue, Signal Mountain, at 9 a.m. today, Sept. 30, 2017, followed by a memorial service and burial at 10 a.m. The Rev. Taylor Densmore and The Rev. Tricia Templeton will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 630 Mississippi Avenue, Signal Mountain, Tennessee 37377, or Signal Mountain Public Library, 1114 James Blvd., Signal Mountain, Tennessee 37377.
Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
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