Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 11-17-17

Local
Businesswoman, Community Activist Mary Alice Dorsett Passes
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Mrs. Dorsett was hon- ored earlier this year by the Atlanta City Council
Mrs. Mary Alice Dorsett passed away Tues- day in Atlanta, GA. She was 91 years old. Mrs. Dorsett had made her home in At- lanta in 2015 following a de- bilitating stroke.
Born, February 4, 1926 in Dade City, Mrs. Dorsett called Tampa home for more than 66 years.
After going through the public education system in Dade City, Mrs. Dorsett matriculated to Paine College on a church scholarship. She then attended the National Trade and Professional School for Women and Girls in Washington, D. C., founded by Dr. Nannie Helen Burroughs.
Dr. Burroughs was a mentor for Mrs. Dorsett and she often quoted her statements.
Mrs. Dorsett returned to Tampa as a business- woman, community advocate and trailblazer. She was the first African-American
MRS. MARY ALICE DORSETT
woman to run for public of- fice in Hillsborough County (1966, Florida State Legisla- ture), founded Faith Mission (1962) that provided food, shelter and guidance to the needy; first African-Ameri- can to own and operate a general employment agency and bail bonds (1960).
Mrs. Dorsett’s awards and recognitions include: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award for Human Rights by the Hills- borough County Commission (2012), Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s North Tampa Office named in her honor (2001), her portrait hung in
the Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library as part of the Champions of Change Ex- hibit (2016), Lifetime Achievement Award and Hall of Fame inductee, Hillsbor- ough County Human Rights Council (2016).
The Atlanta City Council honored Mrs. Dorsett on her 91st birthday, February 4, 2017.
Funeral services for Mrs. Dorsett will be in Tampa. Her son, Dwayne Hill (Lt. Col., Ret.), Atlanta, said the services are planned for Sat- urday, November 25, 2017, 2 p. m., at Greater Bethel M. B. Church. Ray Williams Fu- neral Home will handle the services.
In addition to her son, Mrs. Dorsett is survived by a daughter, Rev. Major Countess Cooper (U. S. Army), Washington, D. C., and goddaughter, Harriet Scott, Tampa.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-A