Mother Dorothy Dean Hayes McCoy, the daughter of the late Mr. Willie Lee Hayes and Mrs. Etta Lenoir Greenfield Patton was born on February 22, 1946 in Jackson, Mississippi. On Monday, May 15, 2023, her head bowed one final time, as she transitioned from the Church Militant, to the Church Triumphant. “Dot,” as she was affectionately called, was educated in the public schools of Essex County, where she gathered the skills that would be instrumental for the decades of prosperous employment that she would accrue within the span of her career.

Prior to her settling into retirement, “Dot” was employed with Sonoco Products Company for over 20 years as a Benefits Coordinator, as well as with Hardees as a Regional Manager for a period of time. Those who came in contact with her will remember her by sweet, warm, and loving disposition—by her willingness to do anything for anyone! She was a dedicated and hard-working woman, and a truly unforgettable force to be reckoned with. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance; these fruits of the spirit that she bore can be accredited to 77 favored years of life.

Mother confessed her faith in Jesus Christ at an early age, and within the span of her beautiful life, constantly worked toward a deeper connection with the Lord. She was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of her sins many years ago according to scripture, and was subsequently filled with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost. She took pride in being sanctified and holy, and was known by her family for how seriously she took walking closely with Christ. Her life was a prayer-filled life, and she was even known for her consistent and seemingly random saying, “Hey, God!” As we look back over the course of her life, and the blessings afforded to her to the extent that we are aware, we understand that her saying was not random— but intentional. She understood that God promised to “inhabit the praises of His people.” She was a faithful member of Miracle Temple Pentecostal Holiness Church for 47 years, and down through the years served in several capacities that included, but were not limited to: Mother of the church, and member of the kitchen staff. She served tirelessly for years as a worker in the church and in whatever capacity the Lord needed her; there was not anything that she would not do for the Lord and her church family. She was notorious among her family and church family for her cooking abilities, and the generosity that she displayed with them — she fed everyone! However, of all of the things that she was known for, the role she held that was most paramount was a mother and helping hand to all who were in need of her loving and timeless touch; for this reason, she served as a foster mother for 38 years. It is the memory of all of these things, that our worlds now shine just a little less brightly, in the absence of our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Mother Dorothy Dean Hayes McCoy.

In addition to her parents, “Dot” was preceded in death by: her husband, Mr. James McCoy, Jr.; her adopted son, Mr. Isaiah Vinson; and her in-laws, Bishop James and Mother Christine McCoy, Sr. 

Now that she has received her crown, Mother leaves behind to continue her legacy of love, her children: Mrs. Sandra (John) Zimmerman, Mrs. Thereasa (Alex) Calise, Mr. Allen McCoy, Pamela (Pius) McCoy-Ohikhueme, and Mrs. Chriszetta (Terence) McCoy-Price; 12 grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren; her siblings, Mr. Roy Lee (Jackie) Greenfield and Ms. Beulah Mosley; her adopted children: Mr. Craig Brown, Mr. Lorenzo Scott, Mr. Shareef McCoy, Ms. Shaquania Smalls, Ms. Diana McCoy, Mr. Assymian McCoy, Ms. Niyah McCoy, and Ms. Brianna McCoy; and host of special nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends all of whom will need your prayers in the coming days, weeks, months, and years ahead as they learn to cope with this loss. We have all loved her, but God loved her best.