Jeanette Lawrence Dobbs

The last breath of Jeanette Lawrence Dobbs, 94, was breathed January 8, 2017. Surrounded by her daughters, son-in-law, and loving hospice nurse, she softly gave way to the boundaries of this earth to begin her forever journey with her Savior, Jesus Christ. She is preceded in death by her parents, C.A. and Dovie Lawrence of Valley Mills, Texas; brothers, Rex, Jack and Ralph, all of Texas; sister, Frieda Breazeale; husband, Dr. WC Dobbs and son, WC Dobbs Jr. She is survived by her sister, Agatha Lawrence Miller, of Jacksonville , Florida.
Born in Mound Texas on March 7, 1922, Jeanette moved with her family, shortly later, to Valley Mills, Texas where she established her reputation as a proficient pianist, a committed Christian, an accomplished athlete in tennis and swimming as well as being an excellent shot. An exemplary student, she graduated as valedictorian of her class on Friday, June 6, and married her pastor the next day, Saturday, June 7. Their love, courtship, and marriage of 67 years was epic and a great source of inspiration to her three children; WC Dobbs, Jr., Susan Nations, and LeAnne Clay, as well as her 8 grandchildren; Lance Nations, Grant Nations, and Paige Nations Code, WC Dobbs III (Clabe), Leah Dobbs Black, and Rachel Dobbs; Erin Jeanette Clay, and Parker Clay. Her twenty great grandchildrn; Jordan Nations, Kiley Nations, Caroline Nations, Bree Cook, Katie Cook, Jackson Nations, Carson Nations, Finley Code, Khaki Code, Rex Code, and Remy Code, WC Dobbs lV (Will), Hope Dobbs, and Wes Dobbs, Gabriella Black, Isabella Black and Ella Black, Wes Clay, Charlotte Ulrich,and CoraLee Scott, loved to hear the stories of their “Gigi’s” and Grandpa’s life together as they served in churches in Texas, Kentucky, and Illinois. Jeanette was a wonderful help- meet to her husband in the ministry and was in demand for decades as a speaker and Bible teacher at Women’s conferences and retreats. Her love for people and desire to encourage them in any way she could was a life mission. She accomplished it. Her children’s mates, Betty Sellers Dobbs, Glen Nations and David Clay, were loved as her own as well as her grandchildren’s spouses, Jonee Cook Nations, Teresa Miles Nations, Jordan Code, Holly Miles Dobbs, and Nathan Black. All had a special place in her heart.
Jeanette taught piano in her home for twenty years, and impacted her students in more than just piano. Her door was always open and you could expect something warm and wonderful to be served…and beautifully presented. She loved to drink out of a pretty glass, even if camping in the woods. Her caretaking heart and skills were legenday. She cared for her husband until his death as well as his mother, who passed away in their home. Her prayer life and dependence on Jesus for sustaining grace every day gave her a joy unspeakable, even as she declined steadily in her health. Joy was her favorite word and the source of that joy, Christ, was her stay. Her desire to know, to add to her vocabulary, lasted until she literally was no longer able to hold a thought. Her zest for life never waned. Eleven days before she died, she haltingly danced at a family gathering. Now she dances with abandon before the Lord who she loved like no other. To know her was to love her and to be loved. We all will miss her terribly.
A celebration service of her life will be held, January 15 at 2:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Mobile Alabama. Interment will be January 21, at 3:00 p.m. at High Point Dobbs Family Farm in Blair, Oklahoma. Yet to be determined will be an honoring service for Jeanette at Amherst Baptist Church, Amherst, Va. Memorial gifts in Jeanette’s honor can be made to the Jeanette Dobbs Scholarship Fund at University of Mobile. Our thanks as a family go to the amazing people at Hospice, Radney Funeral Home in Mobile Alabama, Whitten Funeral home in Madison Heights and Kincannon Funeral Home in Altus, Oklahoma who made our mothers demise a thing of beauty and comfort.