Dorothy Quarterman aged 89 of Jennings Mill in Watkinsville, Georgia, passed away Monday April 20, 2015, surrounded by her sons, Rusty and Doug Quarterman, her dear friend Evelyn McNair and her minister Dr. Robert H. Bohler, Jr. of Central Presbyterian Church of Athens. She will be remembered for her beauty, poise, vitality, and generosity of spirit forever. She was born November 11, 1925 to Paul and Ella Gonzalez in Tampa Florida, attending Roosevelt Elementary, and Plant High. She continued her education at the University of Tampa, graduating in 1946, where she was student body president and an officer in the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. In 1945, on her father’s stipulation that she finish college, she was married to Tallman Quarterman, her high school sweetheart. She was a talented young lady of note, dancing with the Tampa Symphony Orchestra and notably choreographed her own performance to “Rhapsody in Blue.” She is still remembered fondly by many friends and family there.
She relocated to Decatur Georgia with her husband Tallman in 1952, where she reared her sons. Her energy and enthusiasm made an impression on her new community, where she was an active member of the DeKalb Junior League, Decatur Cotillion and a volunteer librarian at Forrest Hills Elementary. She resumed her teaching career in 1963, taking a position at Glen Haven Elementary where she taught until 1995. While there she received many citations and awards for her commitment to her students and talents as a teacher. While still teaching, she continued her own education, receiving her Masters degree from the University of Georgia School of Education in 1983. In 1993, she lost her husband Tallman, and two years later, retired from a 32 year teaching career and shortly thereafter bought a home in Jennings Mill, with her Mother-in-law, Mrs. Frances Williams. Her vitality, enthusiasm for life, poise and spirit of generosity soon endeared her to her community, where she became an active member of several clubs and organizations and a committed member of the Central Presbyterian Church in Athens.
She is survived by her sons, Rusty Quarterman of Athens and Doug Quarterman of Atlanta. She is also survived by her grandson, Russ Quarterman and his fiancé, Jennifer Anders of Darien Georgia; her close friend Evelyn McNair; her niece Beverly Gruber and husband Larry; her nephew Paul Gonzalez and wife Gaynell, all of Tampa, Florida.
Memorial services will be Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Central Presbyterian Church with Dr. Robert H. Bohler, Jr. officiating. Private interment will be in Fairview Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends Friday from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central Presbyterian Church.