Dorothy Ann Wells

Dorothy (Dottie) Ann Simmons Wells, 86, of Lawrenceville, GA, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2023, of natural causes.

She was born in Myrtle, MS to St. Elmo Simmons, a business owner, and Olga Irene Fooshee Simmons, a homemaker, furniture maker, and Christian Campground nutritionist responsible for thousands of meals a day.

Dottie played the piano and had an exceptional singing voice, singing on the radio as part of the "Myrtle Trio," in North Mississippi and Memphis, TN during the 1950s. She was also voted Most Beautiful by her High School Class of 1955.

Dottie was a life-long educator and pioneer in new teaching techniques and providing educational opportunities to students who had previously been left behind. A member of the educational honor society Kappa Delta Pi, she earned a master's degree in education from the University of Georgia. After graduating with a bachelor's degree from Blue Mountain College, where she was a member of Modenian Society, she taught at her Alma Mater, Myrtle High School. She then taught at schools in Amarillo, TX, Dumas, MS, Free Home, GA, Grayson, GA, Milledgeville, GA and finally back to Gwinnett County Schools in 1974, where she became one of the first educators to go to hospitals and homes to teach children who were too ill or injured to attend school. The Gwinnett County School System Hospital-Homebound Program is a model for schools across the nation until this day. For her service, she was recognized for Outstanding Service to Gwinnett County Public Schools by the Board of Education.

She was a devoted Christian, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She is survived by son Bill Wells, Jr. and wife Patricia, of Alpharetta, GA; daughter Carole Wells of Dacula, GA; and son Robert Wells of Lawrenceville, GA; grandchildren Brantley Wells and wife Christen of Alpharetta, Samantha Wells of Sandy Springs, GA, and Sarah Wells of Lawrenceville, GA; great grandchildren Kameron, William, and Quinlan.

She is preceded in death by brothers Al Simmons of Myrtle, MS, Lee Simmons of New Albany, MS, and Milton Simmons of Altamonte Springs, FL, and former husband William "Bill" Wells, Sr.

The funeral for Dorothy Ann Simmons Wells will be held Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Tim Stewart Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, GA. Interment will be at Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday, October 28, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday October 29 at 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Tim Stewart Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, GA.