Dorothy Sutherland Council

Dorothy Sutherland Council, age 98, of Alpharetta, GA (formerly of Lake Waccamaw, NC)

After a brief illness, our beloved Dorothy “Dotty” Sheppard Sutherland Council (April 13, 1925 - March 16, 2024) has died. She was born in Wilmington, NC, the youngest child of William Owen Sheppard Sutherland and Mary Owen Green Sutherland.

For those of us who knew her, she was the most beautiful and bright light we had ever seen. Loved by all. She will be deeply missed.

Dotty was predeceased by her husband of 37 years, John “Jack” Monroe Council, Jr., her daughter Dorothy “Dorry” Rhett Gore, and her daughters by marriage, Harriet Wilkes Council and Virginia Pickett “Kit” Council. She was also predeceased by her brother, William Owen Sheppard Sutherland, Jr., and her sister, Frances Sutherland Lee.

Dotty was graduated from New Hanover High School in 1943. She attended Mary Washington College, the University of Alabama, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, graduating with honors and a degree in education. She worked as a librarian in the New Hanover County School system with career service at John J. Blair Elementary, Ogden Elementary, and subsequently retired from Pine Valley Elementary with a total of 21 years of service. After retirement, she gave her time and attention to her family and to her adopted community, Lake Waccamaw, NC. There was never an occasion or a holiday which passed without a celebration at the home of Dotty and Jack Council. Family and friends gathered there from all over to enjoy good food, good times, good humor, true southern hospitality, and the peaceful and quiet serenity of the Council house at Lake Waccamaw. Early in her career Dotty worked with the Girl Scouts of America. She was also a volunteer with Head Start of Wilmington. She was a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in North Carolina. Dotty gave years of service to the Rube McCray Memorial Library in Lake Waccamaw, where she served on the board and as the publisher of the News-letter. She was, for many years, a member of St. James Episcopal Church of Wilmington, NC, then transferred her membership to Lake Waccamaw Presbyterian Church when she moved to Lake Waccamaw in 1974.

If you knew Dotty Council, you will remember her brilliant smile and her sweet disposition. She will be forever missed.

She is survived by her children, Haskell Smith Rhett, III (Connie), Mary Rhett Gottschalg (John), Katharine “Kacky” Rhett Gallotta (Stephen); and her children by marriage, Susan Council, Margo Council Wright(Richard), Nancy Council Rix (Jim), and John Monroe Council, III (Lori); and her grandchildren Hannah Rhett Prichard (Justin), Walter Sutherland Rhett, William “Will” Gottschalg, Charlotte Gottschalg Harren (Taylor), S. Haskell Gallotta, Katharine “Kate” Gallotta Cline (Brett), Owen Wright Gore; as well as eight grandchildren by marriage and eight great grandchildren; and a beloved niece, Madeline Sutherland-Meier (Richard).          

A celebration of life will be held March 30, 2024 at 2:00pm Lake Waccamaw Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, Lake Waccamaw, NC.

In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lake Waccamaw Presbyterian Church or The J.M. Council Scholarship Fund at Southeastern Community College, Whiteville NC.

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