Dorothy Blanche Perkins Towson, 94, of Dublin, passed away on February 7, 2016. Services will be held Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 11:00am at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) with Reverend Thad Haygood and Reverend Bob Williams officiating. Interment will be at 10:00am at Dublin Memorial Gardens, prior to the service. Mrs. Towson, affectionately known as "Miss Dot" or "Ms. Judge," was the widow of Superior Court Judge William M. Towson, Sr. She was born December 29, 1921, in Millen, GA, the younger daughter of the late Verna Washington Perkins and Calera Pauline Becton Perkins.

"Miss Dot" grew up in Swainsboro, GA, where she lived with her grandmother following the death of her mother. She moved to Dublin, GA, as a young woman and worked with her father as bookkeeper and office manager in his automobile dealership. She later was secretary to Dr. John A. Thurston, Director of Professional Services at the Naval Station (now known as the Carl Vinson Veterans Administration Center) from 1949 until 1954. Mrs. Towson served as Judge Towson's secretary when he still practiced law and was State Court Judge, then as his administrative assistant when he became Superior Court Judge until her retirement.

She was active in community and civic affairs, taking an active role in bi-racial affairs during the period of integration. She served as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Housing in charge of Urban Renewal, and served on the Bi-Racial Committee for the City of Dublin. She was the first registrar for the Dublin Girl Scouts when it was organized by the Dublin Service League in 1954. Later, she became a Girl Scout Leader and was instrumental in starting a Girl Scout troop in the black community. She organized committees in the black community for self-help and self-improvement, including Neighborhood Improvement Committees. She worked toward improved codes enforcement, especially in housing. She served on the Dublin Recreation Board and was active in parent-teacher organizations, serving as President of the Central Junior High PTO. She also worked in Band Boosters, the Tip-Off Club, and other organizations.

Mrs. Towson's devotion to her church and her community was recognized in 1971 when she was selected as "Woman of the Year" by Beta Sigma Phi. She was a member of First United Methodist Church (FUMC), having served on the Administrative Board. Among her proud accomplishments at FUMC were co-establishing the day care program at FUMC, and serving as director of the Youth Program at FUMC where she mentored many young members of the Dublin community for 14 years. She was Past President and a retired member of the Dublin Service League, Past President of the Dublin Elks' Auxiliary, Past Secretary for the State Elks' Aidmore Auxiliary, Past President of the VFW Auxiliary, and Past Secretary of the State VFW Auxiliary. She was also Past President and a member of the Dublin Ladies' Golf Association, and was a charter member of the Dublin Country Club.

In addition to her loving husband of 59 years, Mrs. Towson was preceded in death by her daughter, Margaret Ann Towson, and by her sister, Margaret P. Proctor. She is survived by her children: Allen Kirk and Margaret S. Hazlett; Dorothy Marlene Hazlett; William Malcolm (Billy) Towson, Jr., Reverend James V. (Jimmy) and Debbie Towson, and Andrew Ashley (Andy) Towson. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Jim and Gina Towson, Margaret Towson, Katie Towson and Andrew Towson, and her great-granddaughter Eleanor Rose Towson. She is also survived by numerous loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Gibbs Flanders, Stan Smith, John Perkins, Larry Hutchinson, Roger Folsom, Francis Lewis, Jim Towson, and Andrew Towson. Tom Proctor and Bond Hutchinson will serve as Honorary pallbearers.

The family would like to thank Martha Robinson, Betty Lanier, and Johnnie Dell O'Neal, the staff at Serenity Hospice, and Home Instead for their excellent care and loving compassion prior to and during Miss Dot's illness.

Visitation will be held at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, from 6:00pm-8:00pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Margaret Ann Towson Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Arch Foundation at the University of Georgia, to First United Methodist Church Building Fund, to Serenity Hospice, or to a charity or church of your choice.