CONCORD — Dolly Jean Heath Heritage, 77, of Concord, passed away Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at Avante of Concord.

The family will hold a private Catholic service at Randolph Memorial Park in Asheboro.

Ms. Heritage was born June 10, 1932, in Walnut Cove, to the late Walter Monroe Heath and the late Grace Pearl Martin Heath.

She worked as a scheduler for Santa Monica Nurses Registry and was a member of the Catholic faith. She resided in Washington, D.C., Tokyo, Japan, and Panama before returning to Asheboro to raise her children. She then moved to Santa Monica, Calif. She traveled widely in Europe and spoke Japanese, Russian, Spanish and, most frequently, French. To the delight of her grandchildren, she would translate into English the French storybooks she sent them. In 1994, she retired and moved to Stanley to be near her grandchildren.
She was an award-winning poet. Her works have been published in several collections, as well as in literary magazines. Her words leave a rich heritage of beauty and strength for her family.

“A true daughter of a true daughter.”

A Catholic woman of great faith, she exemplified for us all the love of Christ, giving of herself and trusting in the Lord. This, also, is her legacy to us, her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Christy M. Heritage; sisters, Christine Heath, Margaret Wilson and husband, Dan, and Nancy Jennings and husband, Bill; brother, Jack Heath; and nephew, Michael Heath.

Survivors include her daughter, Karyl H. McClellan and husband, Jim, of Kannapolis; son, Steven M. Heritage, of South Carolina; grandson, Casey Pettus; granddaughter, Carrie Pettus; nieces, Suzanne Fellows of Prescott, Ariz., Eve Cehan and husband, Chuck, of Snow Camp, Laura Lucas and husband, Millis, of Sophia, and Julianne Shanklin of Weymouth, Mass.; and nephews, Thomas Heath and wife, Cheryl, and Christopher Heath, both of Chelan, Wash.

The family would like to express gratitude to the staff at CareBridge Assisted Living, the staff at Avante of Concord, and Drs. Keipper and Duggal for the loving care they provided Jean, and also for the compassionate assistance they provided the family.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215.
Hartsell Funeral Home, Concord will be serving the family.

Asheboro Courier Tribune 3 Nov 2009