Service

Saturday, May 4, 2024

11:00 AM

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church

Rev. R. M. Castle, Pastor

Visitation

Prior to service

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Dorothy L. Roberts-Burns was called home on April 24, 2024 To Be With Our Lord and Savior.

Dorothy was born on August 10, 1935 in Paris TX to W. T. and Lillian Aldridge.
She graduated from Gibbons High School in Paris, TX and later attended Texas College in Tyler, TX prior to moving to Wichita Falls, TX.

Dorothy was a member of Gilbert Memorial CME Church at an early age. She later moved her membership to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church where she was active with the Mission I.

In 1964 she became one of the first two Black women to be hired into white collar jobs by the city. She worked part-time as a clerk. By January 1966, she was named
Employee of the Month. In 1968 she moved into the city information center.

In 1976, Burns was name Coordinator of a new Eastside Community Center and later the Martin Luther King Jr. Center where she served as director until her retirement.
She founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast in 1987, an event that continues to strive today that distributes scholarships to students of all races and
backgrounds while raising awareness to honor the Civil Rights Leader.

Dorothy served her community proudly as Director of Human Relations Commission, First Step Board, and County Health Board and other civic organizations.

After forty years of working for the city and after retirement, Dorothy got into local politics and served eight years on the Wichita Falls City Council serving District 2
and later as At-Large Councilor.

She also served as Mayor Pro Tempore. She was named Wichitan of the year in 2005.

Dorothy leaves behind a legacy of involvement in Wichita Falls as she loved people and serving her community.
Most recently she was named Grand Marshall of the MLK Parade in January 2024. Dorothy loved doing the work for any organization but she always stayed in
the background.

She is preceded in death by parents; brothers, Lilliard Bills and William Aldridge; sister, Mary Foshee and nephew, Billy Aldridge.

Dorothy leaves to cherish her memory, daughter, Mary Ann Merriex (Donal “Pops”); grandchildren, Kenda Merriex; Bingo Merriex and Janette Merriex; great granddaughter, Kiana Moore; several
nieces and nephews other relatives and friends; God Daughter, Sophia Adair; special caretaker/ friends, Barbara Tabb Cameron and Linda Abernathy.