Ms. Dorothy Mae Worley was born to Mary Worley and Roy Pickens in Sylva, North Carolina on July 26, 1935. She passed to her Heavenly Reward quietly in her home in Sylva on May 3, 2020. She is survived by her daughter Gretta (Rosbor) Worley, two grandsons Christopher Rosbor of Cullowhee, North Carolina and Jalen Rosbor of Los Angeles, California, as well as numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Ms. Worley graduated from Central Consolidated High School in Sylva, North Carolina. She also took classes at Southwestern Technical Institute in Webster, North Carolina. Before beginning her career at Western Carolina University, Ms. Worley spent time living in Greensboro, North Carolina, Knoxville, Tennessee: Lorain, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan, but the mountains and the love of her mother always called her back home. Ms Worley was a dedicated and faithful employee of Western Carolina University, retiring after thirty years of service.
In the community, Ms. Worley served as a past Girl Scout Troop leader and head cheerleading coach for Jackson County Youth Sports. She also volunteered with the Jackson County Board of Elections.
Ms. Worley was a member of Liberty Baptist Church where she was baptized and grew up under the direction and guidance of the late Dr. Joe H Smith. Ms. Worley was a past Sunday School teacher and secretary, past member of the Gospel Chorus, young adult and adult choirs, past head usher, and welcomed guest to weekly service until her health prevented her from doing so. She also served as past president of the Waynesville Missionary Baptist Association’s Usher Board and was a member of the Executive Committee.
Ms. Worley was a sports fan: supporting Smoky Mountain High School Athletics, she was an avid Atlanta Braves fan and she cheered for the Duke Blue Devils (just to aggravate Gretta and Jalen who are die hard Carolina fans).
Ms. Worley was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers: Jim Worley, Ray Worley and Bobby Edward Wilson and two sisters: Betty Jo Worley and Minnie Worley Casey.
Ms. Worley’s greatest blessings were her grandsons and her greatest love was her love for her family, both near and far. Her desire was to make her family happy and wanted them to not only know she loved them but for them to feel her love. She held the Wykle Family Reunion and the Casey Family Reunion close to her heart and looked forward to the summer months so she could attend and spend time with her loved ones.
Condolences can be addressed to her family at 105 Ebony Drive, Sylva 28779
Due to the Coronavirus preventing the family from having a traditional funeral service, the family has named Tyron DeLapp, Eric Rasheed Frazier, Bernard Jones, Gary Leonard, Darnell Waters and Odell Williams as honorary pallbearers.