Dorothy Mabe Morse Willard, 97, of Rockingham, passed away on Tuesday May 12, 2026 at Pruitt Health.
Dorothy was born on Aug. 18, 1928 in Richmond County to the late Terry Mabe and Clarice Bennett Mabe.
She graduated from Ellerbe High School and worked as a manager for LNL Cleaners. She was longtime member of West Rockingham Methodist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher and youth director for many years. She enjoyed quilting, word puzzles and spending time with her family.
Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her husbands, Albert Morse and Gene Willard; grandson, Michael Crawley; and her siblings Jimmy Mabe, Clyde Mabe, Wilbert Mabe, L.T. Mabe, Don Mabe and Lois Hayes.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Sherry Crawley (David) and Cathy Bowles; grandchildren, Mark Crawley, Crystal Harris (Jason), Angela Carpenter (Mike) and Susan Allen (Andy); great-grandchildren, Carly Dawkins (Ben), Garrett Carpenter, Henry Allen and Maddie Allen; and great-great-grandchild, Weslynn Dawkins. She is also survived by numerous loving nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026 at West Rockingham Methodist Church at 2 p.m. with Pastor Paul Haber officiating. The family will greet friends following the service. Inurnment at Richmond County Memorial Park will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to honor the life of Dorothy Willard can be made to West Rockingham Methodist Church.
Online condolences can be made at carterfuneral.net.
