On March 5, 1947, Dorothy Orelle Johnson was born the only child of Olena Estelle and Raymond Johnson. She remained a resident of New Town Neighborhood in Marshall all her life, and she served as "Resident EMT" in local hospitals, church, school and wherever God directed her path.

After graduating from H. B. Pemberton Junior and Senior High Schools in the Class of 1964, Dorothy finished the Marshall School of Vocational Nursing in 1969. She retired from Marshall Memorial Hospital (now Christus Health), having worked in several departments. She would speak proudly of her activities as a transit nurse, travelling in ambulances with ER patients across the interstates.

During her last career days, Dorothy managed the Office of Health Services at Wiley College. Called "Mom" by many students and staffers counted on her professional "bedside manner", whether giving medications or advice during health treatment.

Baptized at a young age, she attended Miles Memorial CME Church. She later joined Bethesda Baptist Church where she would meet her soulmate, Billie Arthur Burnett. After they married May 27, 1972, they were soon asked to join the Deacon/Deaconess ministries.

God gave Dorothy many other uniforms to wear in her Christian service. Besides chairing the Deaconess Board for several years, she would frequently welcome congregants through the doors as a member of the Usher Board. Dorothy faithfully attended the Adult Women's Sunday School Class. She was Bethesda's Nurse-in-residence, always on-call to administer care and determine emergency care needs.

Dorothy was a charter member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Amicae (Friends of Zeta) performed community service and organized social events. She served as Chaplain and attended state and national meetings, describing how she chauffeured long distances as a primary "Designated Driver."

She was a member of the Old Powder Mill Cemetery Board, serving as Secretary for many years.

Dorothy was adopted by the Burnett family, becoming a sister to Billie's siblings and Godmother to her nephew Maurice Spriggs. She would accompany her husband to family activities in New Waverly, TX, and often hosted family gatherings at their home on Alvin Street.

Preceded in death by her parents and stepfather, Fred Thompson. She will be remembered by the Marshall community as a "Good and Faithful Servant", always prepared to do God's work in the lives she touched.

She leaves her loved ones in God's Hands: husband Billie; aunt Joan Johnson (Dallas, TX); godson/nephew Maurice Spriggs (Houston, TX); "daughter-in-love" Hazel Lillian Phillips, sisters-in-law: Bobbie J. Bonner (Los Angeles, CA); Margaret (Maxie, Sr.) Spriggs (Houston, TX); Betsy (Charles) Tyson (Tacoma, WA); brother-in-law Fred Burnett (Conroe, TX); nephews: Maxie Spriggs, Jr. (Houston, TX); Jeffery Haywood (Houston, TX) and a host of nieces and nephews; cousins Robert (Delores) Hurd and Linda Hurd Scott (Marshall, TX); Zeta Amicae Sisters; Bethesda Deaconesses and Ushers.