Burton, Dorothy K.
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Burton, Dorothy K.
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Dorothy K. Burton was a wife, mother, sister who worked in the housekeeping staff before becoming a housekeeping supervisor for 17 years at Davidson College, located in Davidson, North Carolina.
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Dorothy Burton, born on September 30, 1942, in Davidson, North Carolina, grew up during the Jim Crow era, facing significant challenges from an early age. At age of eight Dorothy lost her mother in 1952, who worked in the laundry at Davidson College. She was raised primarily by her father and grandmother. At the age of thirteen, she became pregnant and was no longer able to attend school. After her mother's death in 1952, the family had to leave the college house, relocating to a house in the country before eventually returning to Davidson.
Dorothy started working as a teeneager and held various jobs, including positions at Reese Brother Corporation and Burlington Mill in Mooresville, before eventually joining Davidson College's housekeeping staff where she started off washing dishes in the kitchen. She later became a supervisor in 1981, overseeing house cleaning operations and dormitories. Despite living in Davidson, Dorothy faced challenges with her house's maintenance, as the college refused to address needed repairs. She attended Davidson Presbyterian Church and Gethsmane Baptist and ran a small hair business out of her home while working at Davidson. In her later years, health issues, including back surgery and breast cancer, forced Dorothy into retirement in 1998. Dorothy's death date is unknown, as we have no date published in public records, however, Dorothy's life journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and faith in overcoming obstacles and leaving a lasting legacy of resilience and strength.
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30 September 1942
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2021
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(Dorothy K. Burton) in the U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2020.
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