Dorothy Mae Carr

July 12, 1929, in the year of the Lord, the book of life was opened, and the name of Dorothy Mae “Dot” Holder was written. Her name was entered as the second child born to the union of Gabe Holder and Odessa Washington-Holder, of Harrison Switch, Texas. And so, her journey of life began.
Dorothy came to know Christ at an early age at Holders Chapel. She attended school in Harrison Switch. As the oldest daughter she had to help with the raising of her older brother and sisters.

She met and married Robert C. Carr, Sr., in Waco, Texas. He received orders to Paris, France in December 1953, where they lived until November of 1956 when he received orders to relocate to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. Born to this union were four beautiful children three girls Shirley O. Carr-Williams, Cynthia R. Carr-Person, Baby Girl Carr, and one son Robert “Bobby” C. Carr, Jr.
She was very active in her children’s lives. She loved to take her children on vacation, and every Sunday after church to get Dairy Queen ice cream and also go to Catalina Park on 4th Avenue and 2nd Street for picnics. She loved playing cards and making sure children from all parts of Tucson knew they had a safe place at the Carr’s home, and she made sure no one went hungry.

Dorothy was an entrepreneur and started her own catering business back in the 60’s known as DMC Catering, and also sold Avon. She eventually retired from catering and began working for the Department of Economic Security’s home daycare. She also worked for IBM and retired from there in the 80’s. To keep busy, she returned to work for Amphitheater School District at Lulu Walker Elementary School, preparing and serving food, and as a crossing guard, but due to health issues she had to retire early.
Dorothy attended Catalina Methodist Church, Prince Chapel AME, Pilgrim Rest MBC, and Morning Star MBC. She joined Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church in 1976 and sang in the Mission Choir, served in the Kitchen, and was involved the Women’s Ministry. When she could no longer attend services in person, she attended online.

Dorothy was a very loving wife, mother, “neighborhood mother”, grandmother; better known as “granny”, great-grandmother “Nannie”, great-great grandmother, aunt and friend. She will be truly missed by all the lives she has nurtured and touched over her 93 years.
She is preceded in death by her husband Robert C. Carr, Sr., daughter Baby Girl Carr, parents Gabe & Odessa Holder, brother TC Holder, sisters Leatha Mae Reed, Lillie Faye Scales, Ardelia Strode, son in law Marion “Mortie” Person, grandchildren Michael Deion Ashley, Tamarus Carr, Angel and Angelique Jones, great-grandchildren, Promise and Alaina Ashley.

She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Shirley (Larry) Carr-Williams Lexington Park, MD., Cynthia Carr-Person, Tucson, AZ., one son Robert “Bobby” Carr, Jr., Tucson, AZ., seven grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.