Dorothea Stewart Gilbert, 96, of Lillington, died Saturday, December 23, 2023 at UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC.

Dorothea was born in Buies Creek, NC on April 10, 1927, in the house built by her grandfather in 1908.  She was predeceased by her parents, Latta and Florrie Stewart; her first husband, Joseph Hales; her second husband, Marshall Lee Gilbert; and a stepson, John Gilbert. 

Dorothea attended Coats Kindergarten and first grade, grades two through seven at Buies Creek, and graduated from Campbell High School.  She received an AA degree from Campbell Junior College, a BA degree from WCUNC (now UNC-G), and an MA degree from ECU.  She did post graduate work at UNC-CH. 

From the fall of 1948 through the spring of 1955 she taught English, French, U.S. and World History, and First Aid at Buies Creek High School; additionally, she directed plays and coached women’s sports.  After her first marriage she moved to Garner, where for the next five years she taught English, French, sociology, economics, and directed plays. 

In 1960, she moved back to the home of her birth, completed her Master’s in English, and began a thirty-two year tenure at Campbell Junior College, now Campbell University.  Serving in many capacities during those years of Campbell’s unprecedented growth, she participated in the growth of her alma mater from a junior college to a senior college and to a world-impacting university.  Her main interests in subjects she taught were advanced grammar and American literature, with special emphasis on Southern writers.  Summer school teaching included stints at CCCC, St. Mary’s, Mount Olive, and CU. 

When she was in her late 60s, Dorothea wrote “The Run of the Branch,” a weekly column for the Harnett Leader, a short-lived county newspaper published in Lillington.  For 15 years, until she was 90 years old, she served as director/curator of the Lundy-Fetterman Museum at Campbell University.  While there, she created and published two children’s books featuring animals. 

Throughout her adult life, Dorothea was active in her church, having served as pianist, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School director, BYPU leader, and deacon.  A dedicated Christian, she participated in the many church-related activities – visiting the sick and infirm, cooking her famous banana pudding for church gatherings, being on the phone tree, and supporting various pastors and leaders. 

She felt strongly that she needed to participate not only in her career and her church life but also in civic needs.  Accordingly, over the years she became a member of the BPW, Alpha Delta Kappa, Coats Senior Center Board, Meals on Wheels program, Harnett County Alzheimer’s Support Group as facilitator, Buies Creek Lions Club, the Literary Forum Book Club, Tea and Topics Book Club, Cornelia Campbell Book Club, Harnett County Library Board, and Harnett County Friends of the Library Board.  For many years she served as Chief Judge for Precinct 19 in Buies Creek. 

Dorothea enjoyed travel and from 1957 until a few years before her death she traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, thirteen countries in Europe, the Caribbean, England and Scotland.

Dorothea is survived by her many cousins and dear friends, all precious to her.  Also surviving her are stepsons, Phil Gilbert of Atlanta, Alsey Gilbert of Clayton, and a stepdaughter, Jackie G. Deal of Winston-Salem; step-grandchildren, Cole Gilbert, Kevin Gilbert, Bruce Gilbert, Stephen Deal, Hannah Deal, Britt Gilbert, John Gilbert, and Lisa Gilbert; 6 step-great-grandchildren; and special friends, Sandra Howard and Dorothy Mullins-Hare. 

For a celebration of happy memories, her family and friends are urged to gather in the church fellowship hall one hour prior to the funeral service, which will be held at Buies Creek First Baptist Church, Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 11am with Dr. Michael Simmons and Dr. John Rogers officiating.  A private burial will be held at a later date at Buies Creek Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Buies Creek First Baptist Church building fund or to one or more of the three scholarships Dorothea established at Campbell University – English Department, School of Divinity, or Lundy-Fetterman School of Business.