Dorothy Caldwell Messer of Hermanville passed from this life to heaven July 15, 2017. She was 86.

She was born Dec. 26, 1930, in Cataloochee, North Carolina.  She married Oscar L. Messer in 1950 and moved from North Carolina in 1962 when Oscar transferred from the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Natchez Trace Parkway in Port Gibson.  She retired from Allied Chemical as an inspector after 25 years of service.

She was predeceased by her husband, Oscar; parents, Lush and Maggie Caldwell; brother, Riley Caldwell; sister, Bertha Sutton; two brother-in-laws, Cole Sutton and Joe Hannah; and her great-granddaughter, Evie Lynn Delaughter. 

She is survived by three children, Judy Townsend (Willie), Jerry L. Messer Sr. and Jeanne Windham (Grayling); six grandchildren, who mourn her passing, Trent Townsend (Loran), Shelley Delaughter (Roy), Brad Townsend, Jerry Lee Messer Jr. (Leslie) and Lauren Windham; seven great-grandchildren, Sara, Baylie, Addison, Cami and Wyatt Townsend and Gracie and Declan Delaughter; and six siblings, Stokey Caldwell (Geraldean), Walter Boone Caldwell (Kathy), Irene Sutton (William), Nettie Hannah, Sally Messer (Buck) and L.C. Caldwell, all of North Carolina. Many nieces and nephews will miss their aunt Dorothy. 

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 19, at Glenwood Funeral Home in Port Gibson with the Rev. Charles Pope officiating and Karen Sanders, soloist. 

Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Burial will follow at Hermanville Cemetery. 

Pallbearers are Willie, Trent and Brad Townsend; Jerry Lee Messer Jr., Grayling Windham and Roy Delaughter.

The family wishes to thank those who provided Dorothy with loving care: Amisha Anderson, Lori Brown, Brenda Gary, Gloria Edwards, Alice Curtis, and Regina Mathis. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hermanville United Methodist Church, 1148 Williams Road, Hermanville, MS 38086 or Hermanville Cemetery 1178 Abby Road, Hermanville, MS 39086.