Dorothy Lee (Perkins) Arnold

Dorothy Lee Perkins Arnold

aka Dottie B

Life’s Pathway

Dorothy Lee Perkins Arnold was born to the late Rev. Will L. Perkins and the late Frankie Foley Perkins in Hallettsville, Texas, on October 6, 1947. She was the 2nd of six children born to this union. She attended and graduated from the all-black Stevens-Mayo High School, class of 1966.

At an early age Dottie confessed her hope in Jesus Christ and was baptized at Orange Grove Baptist Church in Sublime, Texas, under the leadership of the late Rev. C.C. Price. She grew up singing gospel songs with her father. The family would get up early on Sunday mornings and travel to El Campo, Texas, to broadcast live on the gospel radio channel in the 1960s. Wherever she lived, she found a church, placed membership, and joined that church’s choir.

In 1966 Dorothy met and married Melvin L. Colvin. To this union two children were born. After divorce, she met and married Henry M. Arnold and to this union, one son was born. She was a hard-working woman who always had a job. While in high school she worked on her first job at Chovanetz Bakery on the square in Hallettsville. She worked at Travis State School, located in Austin, as well as several different nursing homes and health care facilities. However, her favorite job was working in a trailer house factory in Austin making Palm Harbor Homes.    

Dottie was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star until her health began to fail. When she returned home to Hallettsville, she pledged her church membership at St. Thomas Baptist Church in Westhoff, Texas, and sang in the choir until her health no longer permitted her to continue. She had other interests and skills, such as sewing and quilting, plants, and fashion.

She leaves to cherish her memory: sister, Willie Bea King; brother, Leon Perkins; brother, Leonard Perkins, Sr.; sister, Evelyn Shelton; sisters-in-law, Ruby Sistrunk, Mildred Johnson, and Sheila Perkins; and brother-in-law, Rickey Mitchell.

The children she leaves to cherish her memory are: daughter, Rochelle René Colvin Horton (Timothy); son, Michael Lunn Colvin (Barbara); son, Henry LaMonte Arnold (Kris); step-daughters, Patricia Arnold and Terry Arnold.

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