Dorothy Rackley

Dorothy Dickerson Rackley passed away at Brantwood Nursing and Rehab Center on December 10, 2025, at the age of 103. Born September 1, 1922, in Oxford, NC, Dorothy lived in Raleigh for many years before returning to Oxford nearly a decade ago.

She graduated from Oxford High School and attended Greensboro Women’s College. Dorothy was a devoted homemaker and also worked alongside her husband in his accounting practice as an office administrator. She was a longtime member of St. John’s Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC.

Dorothy is survived by her sons, Jimmy Carroll Rackley (Claudia) and Steven Crymes Rackley (Lana), as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carroll R. Dickerson and Ora Crymes Dickerson.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 11:00 am in the chapel at Gentry-Newell and Vaughan Funeral Home located at 503 College Street, Oxford, NC 27565.

Family will greet friends and family after the funeral. She will be laid to rest beside her latehusband, James Edward Rackley, in Elmwood Cemetery in Oxford, NC.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Brantwood Nursingand Rehab Center for the loving care they provided during her final years. They treated her like family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Baptist Church (1615A Oberlin Rd, Raleigh, NC 27608) or the Granville Health System Foundation (P.O. Box 947, Oxford, NC 27565. 

The Rackley family is being cared for by Gentry-Newell &Vaughan, 503 College Street, Oxford, NC, 27565.