Margery V. “Ruby” Dottin, 98, of New Bedford passed away peacefully at home in her sleep on Thursday November 19, 2020.
She was born on November 17, 1922, in Cambridge, MA to her mother, Marie Heywood of Barbados.
Margery is predeceased by her daughter Carolyn M. Wilder and her son Rev. Steven A. Dottin. She is survived by her granddaughter Rebekah M. Dottin of Newark, NJ; four step-grandchildren, Steven Bingham of Indianapolis, IN, Timothy Bingham of Dallas, TX, Shelley Graham of Hyannis, MA, and Rachel Bingham of San Antonio, TX; several great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Margery received a degree in Education from Harvard University and was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Prior to her retirement, Margery was the Director of the Upward Bound program at Southeastern Massachusetts University, (UMass Dartmouth). Her accomplishments include Director of Project SPACE, a program aimed at assisting New Bedford’s youth at the high school level in education. She was also the Deputy Director of ONBOARD.
Mrs. Dottin was a member of the New Bedford School Committee for many years, having been the first female minority to be elected to the committee.
Among her many awards received were the Afro-American History Museum Award, the S.M.U. Outstanding Performance Award, the NAACP Award for Education and Community Service, Governor’s Citation in education and community service, Martha Briggs Award for Commitment to Education, Mayor’s Award from the City of New Bedford for her contribution to Black History in New Bedford, and the YWCA Economic and Social Justice Award. She was also nominated as the Standard -Times Woman of Year in New Bedford.
Margery was a member of the NAACP, the New Bedford Historical Society, the Julio J. Alves Scholarship Committee, the League of Women Voters, the American Red Cross and the YWCA, where she served as assistant treasurer. She was an active and devoted member of the International Church of the Nazarene.
Margery loved spending time with her family, summering on Martha’s Vineyard, and collecting lighthouses and angels. She enjoyed traveling, reading and helping people from all walks of life to achieve their lifetime goals that they would set for themselves. She was a woman who loved many and was loved by many in return.
Her Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday November 25th at 10 AM at the International Church of the Nazarene, 284 Pleasant St., New Bedford. Burial will be in Rural Cemetery. Capacity limit at Church is 40 people. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday November 24th from 4-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Please be advised that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there are strict guidelines that must be adhered to for the safety of everyone. You MUST wear a mask to be allowed entry to the services. Please practice social distancing and avoid any close contact. Guests will be permitted to pay their respects and depart to allow the next guests to enter. Capacity at the funeral home will be limited so there could be wait times outside the funeral home. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.