Dorothy Elizabeth Neisen

Dorothy Elizabeth Neisen, 78, of Lake Park passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at South Georgia Medical Center. She was born on July 24, 1939 in Valdosta to the late George Maxwell Peterson and Eva Belle Touchton Peterson. Dorothy graduated from Lake Park High School then attended Miami-Dade Junior College and North Florida Junior College in Jacksonville, FL. She worked for the Social Security Administration for thirty two years in twelve offices in GA, FL and NC. In addition to living in GA, Dorothy lived in Delaware, Germany, Las Vegas, NC, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville, FL. Her first husband, Richard Miskimen, was born in Ohio and died in 1962 and second husband, Stanford Neisen, was born in Massachusetts and died in 1991. Dorothy’s great grandfather, George W. Herndon was a Private in Co. G, 51st GA Infantry, Confederate States Army and great great great grandfather, William Herndon was a Private in Col. Youngblood’s Regiment, S. C. Militia, War of 1812. Her great great grandfather, John Peterson, was a musician in the Revolutionary War Army and seventh great grandfather, William Herndon, was born in England. He married Catherine Digges, daughter of the Governor of Virginia. Dorothy was a member of Valdosta UDC #471; Benjamin Exum Chapter, Daughters of 1812 where she served as secretary for a number of years and Wiregrass Chapter, Southern Dames. She was also a member of Echols, Lake Park and Lowndes Historical Societies and president of Genealogy Unlimited. While there, she and Geraldine Clifton co-authored “Church and Family Cemeteries in Lowndes County”. She was instrumental in keeping Lake Park museum open. Dorothy was a faithful contributor to Heifer International. She enjoyed going to Smiling Faces at Lake Park Baptist Church, loved history, enjoyed traveling to state and national parks, loved animals and taught genealogy classes each semester at Learning In Retirement at VSU. Dorothy was proud of her shot glass and refrigerator magnet collection.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen Elizabeth Higgins (James) of Bremen, GA, grandson, Philip Richard Haddix (Erin Ezell) of Bowie, MD, granddaughter, Rachel Elizabeth Haddix of Cedartown, GA, great grandson, Oliver Marlowe Haddix of Bowie, MD, brothers, Wilbur Peterson (Connie) of Valdosta and George Peterson (Ann) of Lake Park, nephew, Richard Peterson (Sadie) of Lake Park and numerous other relatives. She is preceded in death by her brother, Jimmy.

A memorial service will be held Friday, May 18, 2018 at eleven a. m. at the McLane Lakewood Funeral Home in Lake Park. The family will receive friends from ten until eleven a. m. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Humane Society of Valdosta/Lowndes County to the spay/neuter program. Condolences to the family may be expressed online at www.mclanecares.com. McLane Lakewood Funeral Home, Lake Park.