Over the years I have collected many obituaries from many different resources.  I either received them from family members, emails, letters or websites.

Greensboro News & Record (NC) - January 4, 2006
Deceased Name: FLORA BELLE DAWSON STOTT
GREENSBORO- Mrs. Flora Belle Dawson Stott, 100, of Friends Homes Guilford, 925 New Garden Road, a retired Methodist Missionary to Japan, 1930-1941, and CROP Walker for 25 years, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2006.

Mrs. Stott's memorial celebration will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at West Market Street United Methodist Church, 302 West Market Street, Greensboro. Interment will be in the Columbarium at West Market Street United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends following the service on Thursday in the Gathering Space of West Market Street United Methodist Church.

A native of Guilford County, she was the daughter of the late George Washington Dawson and Lillie Belle Williams Dawson. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, the Rev. Janadus Doane Stott, two brothers, Stephen Vance Dawson and Robert Grady Dawson, three sisters, Juanita Mabel Dawson Farlow, Pauline J. Dawson Whittington and Mary Williams Dawson Lowdermilk.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Belle Gilbert and husband Charles of Greensboro; her son, the Rev. Elbert Russell Stott and wife Caroline of Chapel Hill; four grandchildren, Mary Lynne Gilbert of Greensboro, Charles Donald Gilbert and wife Amal of Bretby, England, UK, Sandra Stott Benavides of Chapel Hill and David Dawson Stott and wife Carol of Lexington; six great- grandchildren, Alia Gilbert, Nadia Gilbert, Daniel Benavides, Nicolas Benavides, Ashley Stott and Dawson Stott.

Mrs. Stott was a graduate of Bessemer High School, attended North Carolina College for Women at Greensboro (currently UNCG), graduated from Duke University, and also was a graduate of the Tokyo School of Japanese Language and Culture. She and her husband, Doane, were Methodist Missionaries in Japan from 1930 until 1941. They served in Kobe, Hiroshima and Uwajima. After returning from Japan in 1941, she and Doane moved to Hartford, Conn., where he studied at Hartford Seminary for a year. They were then assigned by the Home Mission Board to Pembroke. They continued their ministry at appointments in eastern North Carolina in The North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, retiring from Swepsonville in 1963. They returned to Japan in 1963 to serve in Yoichi on the Lacour Evangelism Team for the summer and then taught at Palmore Institute in Kobe for the 1963-64 school year.

An educator who home schooled her children in Japan, Flora Belle taught in eastern North Carolina Public Schools and in Greensboro, where she taught at Bessemer School. She helped to open the Business Department at Pembroke State College. She taught Bible, English and cooking classes in Japan. She was a member of the Guilford County/Greensboro Unit of North Carolina Retired School Personnel, a Division of the North Carolina Association of Educators.

Mrs. Stott was an active member of West Market Street United Methodist Church, where she served as librarian from 1968 to 1999. She was an honorary member of the Administrative Board, a member of the Morris Sunday School Class, United Methodist Women, Circle Number Four and Circle Number Three and the Friendship Club. She and Doane together were Mobile Meals Volunteers and for many years visited every Sunday at Greensboro Convalescent Center. They were also regular weekly visitors at other nursing homes. She was a member of the Greensboro Lady Lions and served as president three times. Not only was she a CROP Walker, but she also served on the Greensboro Urban Ministry CROP Walk Committee and was recognized by the committee with a presentation at her 95th birthday. She was the person who initially suggested that Friends Homes have its own Crop Walk. The Whittier Activities Director and Mary Belle Gilbert pushed Flora Belle in her wheelchair as residents of Friends Homes Guilford had their Crop Walk indoors in the living room in 2005, enabling her to participate as a "Crop Walker" at age 99. Until recently, she was a Friends Homes volunteer with Japanese students at Guilford College, assisting them with English language study. Into her early 90's during her daily morning devotional she would read her English Bible first, then read the same passage in her Japanese Bible. This was her way of maintaining her Japanese language skills.

She enjoyed her hobbies of reading, ceramics, sewing, and all kinds of crafts including Chrismons, flower arranging, woodcarving and gardening. She was an excellent cook and liked to try new recipes. She canned and froze vegetables from their garden. She and Doane were always sharing the bounty of their garden with their neighbors. She was very creative and could always manage to serve a nice meal to unexpected guests. She and Doane enjoyed having company.

In November, 1988, she and Doane were recognized as Senior Citizens of the Month by Greensboro Parks and Recreation. Some other awards she received include Woman's Society of Christian Service Life Memberships, United Methodist Women Special Mission Recognitions, the West Market Street United Methodist Women's Gayle Hicks Fripp Award, and a special recognition for her years as church librarian.

Flora Belle was a loving sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, great grandmother and friend. She constantly thought about others and how she could help them. "Let me know how I can help you." Even as her memory failed her she could still pray a beautiful inspiring prayer and helping others was at the center of her thoughts just as it had been all of her life. Because of her care and concern for others, she was truly a "missionary in residence" at Friends Home Guilford. Staff and residents spoke of her as "such a sweet lady". Her wheelchair had a sign on the back." Sweet Smile". "Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may better serve you," was on her lips many times in her last days. She was very focused on her church and missed attending regularly. She always had a mission spirit; sharing the joy and the love of Jesus Christ was just a natural part of her everyday life. Flora Belle was a constant source of inspiration to everyone who knew her.

In November 2005, relatives and friends gathered from far and near to help Flora Belle celebrate her 100th birthday. It was special to her to be able to see so many loved ones. Letters and certificates of recognition as a centenarian came from the President, the Governor, the Bishop, and the General Board of Global Ministries. Over 150 greeting cards brought birthday greetings from around the world, many enclosing special memories of Flora Belle.

The family wishes to thank the staff and residents of Friends Homes Guilford for their wonderful loving care given to Flora Belle.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to West Market Street United Methodist Church, 302 West Market Street, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27402-0870; or Greensboro Urban Ministry, 305 West Lee Street, Greensboro, North Carolina 27406-1240; or Friends Home Guilford, 925 New Garden Road, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410.

The family is being served by Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home.

Most of my family members came from St. Francois County, Missouri.  Others came from Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and Germany.  If you would like to contribute a photo, please email me at: rebecca@digginforroots.com.

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