Doris Bleckley

Doris Wilma Bleckley, devoted family member and dear friend, died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones and prayers from afar, on September 20, 2016, at the age of 91.  Doris, the third child of Thomas Cleon and Maude James Bleckley, was a native of Clayton, Georgia.  She attended Rabun County High School where she was very active in basketball and other sports.  As an avid golfer, she twice won the title of Rabun County Women’s Golf Champion.  Miss Bleckley earned her education degree from Mercer College in Macon, and she was a teacher in every sense of the word for almost 40 years!           Doris met the Walker family of Orlando, Florida in early 1960.  They became fast friends and adopted family.  At their invitation she moved to Orlando to live and work.  She taught Physical Education and coached women’s basketball before becoming Dean of Students at Colonial High School.  Upon retirement she returned home to her beloved Clayton to be with family and friends and to serve as a substitute teacher at her high school alma mater.  She also enjoyed exploring opportunities in real estate and local civic service, being elected to serve in a position on the Clayton City Council.  Doris was a long-time member of Clayton Baptist Church and she frequently served as a Sunday school teacher there.    “D,” as she was often called, never met a stranger and was a true friend to so many, giving unselfishly of her time, resources and talents to anyone who had a want or need.  Her joy in life was in caring for and serving her many friends and family, whether it was in visiting with friends at McDonalds, talking with folks on the streets of Clayton, or making the rounds of those who were ailing in the community.  Doris was proud of her Bleckley heritage and she loved her Northeast Georgia Mountains, saying, ‘it’s the prettiest place on earth!’ Hers was a beautiful example of a life, faithfully lived!