‘……..Bill was quick to discern which of his students had a flair or talent for writing and he nurtured them, prodding and pushing us along hoping to make us see the potential locked deep inside ourselves. One of the most distinctive features about Bill was his wonderful voice. He could read a passage of literature with all the softness and tenderness of angel wings or scare the beegeezus out of us with his lion-like roar……’ Student - Monroe High School Class of 1965

AVOC

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September 24, 2011

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Bill Dawson, Teacher, Mentor & Friend, Relative & Citizen died 9.20.11

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NOTE FROM Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc.

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Billy Dawson -- 1932-2011

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Billy Dawson, (our fathers were brothers) died this week.   He had stipulated that his funeral service be brief and graveside at Union Christian Church Cemetery in the family square –along side his parents, Raymond and Pat Dawson, his infant twin sister, Betty Jean; and brother Edd who died at 10 years of age.   Billy chose persons to speak and told them to be brief.    His family honored his request.  

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Early in his career in education, Billy taught school at Commerce High School and later at Monroe Area High School.   In 1969, he transferred to Oglethorpe County to be Assistant Superintendent with his friend and fellow educator T. Y. (Tom) Harris who took the job as Superintendent.   They worked together until their retirement.   Billy was a longtime resident of Main St in Watkinsville.

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Over the years, various persons have commented on their knowledge and fondness for Billy as a Teacher.   Former students attended his service on Friday along with many more folks.   A tribute by a Monroe High School student appears below along with a family message describing the service.   Distance, age and health kept some relatives from attending.

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Billy had countless cousins: Dawsons, Jones, Dickens, Daniells, et al

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Billy’s Obituary appears at Online Athens and Carter Funeral Home.   Guestbook comments can be left at:

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Billy Dawson -http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/onlineathens/guestbook.aspx?n=billy-dawson&pid=153764917&eid=sp_gbupdate

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A.E. Carter Funeral Home

http://www.aecarterfuneralhome.com/obits/obituary.php?id=114318

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Billy, Ned, Edd Dawson Ca 1946

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Edd Dawson Cemetery Marker at Union Church Cemetery

A.E. Carter Funeral Home
1670 Atlanta Hwy
Madison, Georgia 30650
Tel: 706-752-1790

September 21, 2011                                    Obituaries

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Billy Dawson

Born: Mon Feb 1, 1932
Died: Tue Sep 20, 2011

Billy Jones Dawson, 79, of Watkinsville passed away on September 20, 2011 at St. Mary's Hospice.  He was born February 1, 1932 to the late Raymond  and Patty Jones Dawson.  He attended the University of Georgia where he received both his bachelors and masters degree in education.  He began his teaching career in Commerce, Georgia, moving to teach in Monroe and then retired from the Oglethorpe County Board of Education as Assistant Superritendent. He then taught night classes at the University of Georgia for a number of years.  He loved to teach and is remembered by many of his students.  Along with teaching, Mr. Dawson also enjoyed music and cooking.

Mr. Dawson is survived by his brother, Ned Dawson and Jean; nieces and nephews: Mark Dawson and Lisa, Patti Clark and Ken, Hailey and Harrison Clark and Jeff Dawson; long time friend Dr. Roy Ward and caregivers Perla and Frank Ramos and Christina and Juan Ortega.  He is also survived by numerous cousins.  Mr. Dawson was preceded in death by his parents Raymond A. Dawson and Patty Jones Dawson; a twin sister Betty Jean Dawson and a brother James Edd Dawson.

A graveside service will be held for Mr. Dawson on Friday, September 23, 2011 at 10:00 AM at Union Christian Church Cemetery.  Visitation will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Union Christian Church Perpetual Care Cemetery Fund.

Union Church Cemetery Fund

Perpetual Care

C/o Ned Dawson

1100 Union Church Road

Watkinsville, GA 30677

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September 23, 2011

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BY:      Nowell Briscoe

            1261 Briar Hills Drive, NE

            Atlanta, GA 30306

            MACHS Class of 1965

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In 1907, Henry Brooks Adams made a profound observation concerning teachers. He said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

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This sentiment rings very clear and true when it comes to describing my friend and former teacher Bill Dawson. I first met Bill when he arrived at Monroe Area High School in 1963, ready to meet his first group of students as classes began.

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    ... Being the “new teacher” in school, it is sometimes difficult for students to gauge the new teachers as we know nothing about them, how they teach, how they relate to the students, and just how far we as students could push them. Bill was to teach English, literature and math. When classes started and we began settling in, we found in this new teacher something we had never had before in the “student-teacher” profile; we found a real friend.   Bill’s passion and authority for English and literature was evident early on. No matter what class you had with him, everyone who had Bill Dawson as a teacher came away from those classes with his indelible mark stamped on them. Here was a person who not only was in total command of his subjects but loved teaching as well. He had a genuine interest in each one of his students. He wanted to see us bloom in our own way and did what he could in helping us achieve this goal.

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Bill was quick to discern which of his students had a flair or talent for writing and he nurtured them, prodding and pushing us along hoping to make us see the potential locked deep inside ourselves. One of the most distinctive features about Bill was his wonderful voice. He could read a passage of literature with all the softness and tenderness of angel wings or scare the beegeezus out of us with his lion-like roar to emphasize a point or when he was desperate to make us understand and appreciate a topic, phrase or subject he felt it important we know and remember.

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In junior English class with Bill, we were reciting a poem by Sidney Lanier, one of his favorite poets. He picked various ones in the class to recite passages. All through our recitations, he sat on the side of his desk, eyes closed, listening intently to what was being read, as he coached us on our delivery. I started my passage, doing what I thought was a pretty good job. Bill opened his eyes, looked at me, held up his hand and said, “Stand up and see if that will improve your delivery.” I stood and started over the same lines. Again, up went his hand. “I know you can speak louder than that”, he cautioned. “You have never spoken that soft in my class before. Try to be a little more animated and give your words more life!” Here I was, reading something I never read before, having no clue as to what the poem was about or how to express it and Bill sitting there criticizing every word out of my mouth. I started again, giving it what I thought he wanted. I was further along than before when again his hand flew in the air. I noticed that his face had turned a reddish color; I knew what that meant. “I have heard funeral sermons that had more passion and fire than what you are attempting,” his voice lowering into that lion-esque growl. “Sit down, open your ears and listen to the correct way it is supposed to sound.” Now it was my face that was flushed with embarrassment and shame over my failing attempt to please him as giggles from other classmates peppered the room.

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He took his book, located the passage I had failed so miserably on and recited it in such a way that when he finished, there was not a sound in the room. Looking again in my direction, he asked for a re-delivery. This time I did not fail him. I read, I teased, I scolded, letting my fears recede as I let loose with what I thought he wanted. When I finished and looked up, his eyes were bright, a smile crossing his face and he nodded his head in approval. “My God, I do believe there is going to be hope for you yet!” I could not have been happier if he had given me an “A+”.

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Bill began setting precedents at Monroe soon after his arrival in not only his teaching but the comfortable atmosphere he created between student and teacher. It was no surprise the following year when he was honored by the high school annual being dedicated to him. This was unprecedented that a new teacher be awarded the honor in such a short time. The school was showing him the love, admiration and sincere respect everyone had for him. In my annual, he wrote a full page about his hopes for me, his appreciation of my friendship and the wish that we would always be friends. He was correct on that point.

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Our friendship continued after I graduated until today as I stand here wishing again I could tell him all he meant to me but instead to wish him farewell and God-Speed. The dedication from the annual reads: “A primary aim of those who teach should be, not to impart opinions, but to kindle minds. To know how to suggest is an art of teaching. We feel that we have in our school an artist who has taken as his task the molding of lives. By using the tools of understanding and genuine interest in his students, he creates an atmosphere of comfort and smiles. By using a strong, just hand of discipline, he instills respect for the confining elements of our lives. By using love, friendship, and wise counsel, he creates in each of his students a faith in life that might otherwise be destroyed by problems and disappointments. Because you have excelled as an artist in fulfilling our needs as students and as individuals, the annual staff dedicates the 1964 Hurricane to you.”

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Decades ago, during my years in the funeral business, I shared a quote with Bill about death that was especially meaningful to me. When I read it to him, it was the first time I ever saw tears in his eyes. He told me it was one of the most beautiful depictions of death he had ever heard. I think Bill would appreciate my sharing it with you because as I read it, I can see him standing here, reciting these words to us as only he could, as way of comfort letting us know though he is no longer here in the physical sense, his spirit is just as alive and vibrant as it always was.

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The quote is from Henry Scott Holland, Canon of St. Paul’s Cathedral, who penned these words as he faced the ending of his own life:

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“Death is nothing at all; I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you; whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name; speak to me in the easy way you always used. Put no difference in little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Life means all it ever meant. It is the same as it always was; there is absolutely unbroken continuity. I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner…..All is well.”

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One thing I know for certain….. Every student Bill taught came away from his presence a better person because he instilled in each us a bit of himself. He affected every student he taught and he continues to be remembered and appreciated by all who had the privilege of being his student or his friend.

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I will always be honored by the fact that Bill gave me two gifts; his knowledge and guidance as a teacher and the best gift, his love and friendship. Bill has a special place in my heart and will continue to do so until the day arrives I again hear that wonderful deep voice and see Bill’s smiling face high in the clouds beckoning me to him, asking me again to recite one of his favorite poems. When that time arrives, I hope to get an A+ for my efforts.

Message to Extended Dawson Family on 9.23.11

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Billy’s Funeral –Friday, September 23, 2011‏

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DAWSON FAMILY

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A good crowd attended the funeral for Billy at 10:00 AM today.   The weather cleared up and it was held at graveside at Union Christian Church Cemetery.   There were several rows of chairs but some were left vacant as folks chose to stand around.

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Ruhl, Charlotte, Aunt Becky & Flo, Randy, Nan, Charles & Barbara Dawson, Dianne Daniel, Dan & Lillie Dawson, David Dawson, Wendell & Betty, Elaine and Tommy, Patsy & Jack, Doug and Sherica represented the Dawson family in addition to Ned and Jean and their family.

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Dr Ward sat with the caregivers, including Perla and Frank, who came with him.    Cecil Maxey, his sister Shirley, Larry and Kathrine Weatherford, Earl Elsner, Andra Dickens, Larry and Sandra Allen, Bob and Dot Dickens, Larry & Dot Hawk, Mont Shelnutt, Jacqueline and Caphas, Charlie Brooks and his sister Beth Patrick, former students at Monroe, Johnny Lay, Donnie Singleton, CPA, Neal Lord, Gene Moore, Ed Parsons, Amrey Harden and many others, several being former students at Monroe and fellow classmates from the Class of 49- Joan Elder Lee, Ann Kilpatrick, James Ashe….  Sorry, I cannot remember all of the folks.

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The speakers were Rev Troy Tatum who had prayer and read scripture, High School Classmate, Rev. James Ashe spoke and shared memories, T Y Harris who worked with Billy for decades in Monroe and in Oglethorpe County, shared experiences; Doug Dickens who explained that Billy and Sherica became friends when she was working in the School Office and they started going out to eat once a week for several years;    Ned thanked everyone for coming, helping and recognized the caregivers and Dr Ward.  He also said Sherica could calm Billy down when no one else could!

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It was a nice service.   It had some humor, good memories of Billy, and brought together a lot of family and old friends.

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Wendell

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FOR MORE ON BILLY DAWSON’S IMMEDIATE FAMILY, SEE:

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9-21-09 Oconee Remembered 1940’s # 4 – Sad Death of 9 year old Edd Dawson in 1947

            http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=4034