Dorothy Lee Spivey Hefner received her heavenly rewards on Sunday, February 11, 2024.

Dorothy, the youngest of eight siblings, was born in Martha, Kentucky. Her family moved to Coalwood, West Virginia, where she grew up as a coal miner’s daughter. She had a taste of big city life in Chicago after high school before moving to Virginia and attending school to become a lab technician. 

While in school, one of the instructing doctors invited Dorothy and other students to attend church. Having spent her childhood watching her father read his Bible nightly, it was at this time that she would begin her daily walk with the Lord as a young woman.

Moving to the Hampton Roads area, Dorothy was a charter member and elder of Faith Presbyterian Church in the Bruton Park neighborhood. Once her four children were in school, she returned to work as a lab technician, retiring from LabCorp in 2002. She later became a member of Temple Baptist Church, where she was a beloved Sunday School teacher. 

Dorothy was a charming and sweet woman with a bubbling, infectious laugh who always put the needs of others before her own. She loved crosswords, gardening, shopping, and chocolate! Time spent with her family was her greatest joy, and she never let anyone leave without saying, “Lord, go with you and keep you safe!”

Dorothy was preceded in death by her daughter, Laura Beth Hefner. She is survived by daughter Janie Hefner Newman, son Kevin Hefner (Mari Beth), son Bryan Hefner (Colleen), granddaughters Laura Jayne Newman, Jennifer Gear (Ryan), Zoe Hefner, Vivian Bragg (Doug), great-granddaughter Beatrice Bragg, and her little honey dog Stevie.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 15, between 5:00 and 7:00 pm. A graveside service will be held Friday, February 16, at 11:00 am at Peninsula Memorial Park.

Peninsula Funeral Home has been entrusted with her care.