Dorothy Zelma Barrow Kennedy

Dorothy Zelma Barrow Kennedy

August 29, 1915 – April 11, 2014

 Dorothy Zelma Barrow Kennedy, 98, of Wilson passed away Friday at her home surrounded by her family.  A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church, 311 W. Nash Street, Wilson.  The Rev. Dr. Doug Murray will officiate.  A private interment will be held in Maplewood Cemetery.  A reception will be held immediately following the service at First Baptist Church. Dorothy, whose name in Greek means “Gift of God”, was born in Zebulon on August 29, 1915.  She was the daughter of John Knox Barrow and Lillian Gupton Barrow of Zebulon and was fortuitous for that community being responsible, unselfish, and caring to her parents, siblings and friends. Dorothy was educated in the public schools of Zebulon, Greensboro College, and graduated from Duke University in 1935 at the age of twenty.  She taught public school in Zebulon, Farmville, and Fremont before meeting her lifelong mate in 1938.  Dorothy was immediately attracted to this new young man to town that she met at the soda fountain of Zebulon Drug Company where he worked. In 1939 Dorothy was married to that young man, Kenneth Kennedy.  Their blissful sixty-eight year marriage was punctuated by service to their family and community wherever they lived.  They came to Wilson in 1945, after WWII, and established their home and life in the greater Wilson vicinity. K.D. Kennedy, her husband, founded Electric Supply Company in 1946.  He passed away in 2007 and Dorothy lovingly spoke of him until the day she died.  Dorothy is survived by her two children; K.D. Kennedy, Jr. and wife, Sara Lynn Riley Kennedy and Susan Kennedy Smith, and late husband, Jack Smith.  Dorothy had five grandchildren; Kenneth Durwood Kennedy III and wife, Meg McCants Kennedy, Katherine Riley Kennedy and partner, Josef “Jody” Garliss, Sara Lauren Kennedy, Michael Wesley Kennedy, and Dustin Walker Smith and wife, Christy Phillips Smith.  She had seven great-grandchildren; Fiona Kennedy Kelly, Aidan Daniel Kelly, Gavin Joseph Kelly, Henry Knox Garliss, Riley Rose Campbell, Ethan Walker Smith and Connor McCants Kennedy. Dorothy has been defined as a “true lady” by those who knew her well.  She could also be defined as one who put others first, before herself, showing her great respect for everyone.  She was a soothing tonic to all with her positive smile and her never-ceasing affection. Flowers are welcome or memorials in Dorothy Kennedy’s memory may be directed to Office of Institution Advancement, Barton College, PO Box 5000, Wilson, NC  27893 or the First Baptist Church, Church Organ Fund, PO Box 1467, Wilson, NC  27894.

A family poem has been written about Dorothy:

Dorothy

 The gentle touch of my goddess

on this child’s heart and brow

would ease my hurt and solitude

to depths my mind allow.

 Long as my thought can still recall,

as love swells in my breast,

her smile, her scent, her gentle touch,

will give my soul great rest.