Chaplain William “Billy” Ernest Dodson, age 73, died December 27, 2008 in the Bill Nichol’s Veteran’s Home in Alexander City, Alabama. Survivors are his wife, Ray Dean “Teen” Lumpkin Dodson, of over 51 years; one son, William Dean (Tracy) Dodson of Westfield, Indiana; three daughters, Galynn (Allen) Wilkinson of Chesapeake, Virginia; Donna DeAnne “Dee Dee” (Shawn) Feeney of Sheridan, Indiana; and Kimberly “Kim” Sue (Rick) Hogge of Sheridan, Indiana; and ten grandchildren.
Chaplain Dodson was born in Sheffield, Alabama. He was the only child born to Luther Ernest and Mamie Lou Whorton Dodson. He graduated Jones Valley High School in Bessemer, Alabama, Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham, Alabama, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He pastored Southern Baptist Churches in Alabama and Texas. He served as a Navy Chaplain for 20 years. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam. Special appreciation is extended to the men of the Maverick Sunday School class of First Baptist Church of Selma, the “coffee bunch”, and the staff of Bill Nichols Veterans Home in Alexander City, Alabama. A memorial service celebrating his life will be announced at a later date.