Dorothy Jennings Tait

Dorothy Jennings Tait died peacefully on May 27, 2011 at Westminster Manor which had been her home for the past several years. She was 94 years old. Mrs. Tait, daughter of the late Walter B. Jennings and Olive Coleman Jennings, was born in Buffalo, NY and grew up in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. She was a gifted pianist and received degrees in music from both Western College for Women (now Case Western Reserve), and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. In 1942, she married Jack V. Tait and after WWII both taught piano at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Virginia. They moved to Rock Hill in 1953 where Mr. Tait took a position on the music faculty at Winthrop University. Dorothy Tait taught musicianship at the piano to hundreds of young people in Rock Hill. Dedicated to the highest levels of music education, she held various positions of leadership in the Music Teachers National Association and the SC Piano Teachers Forum. Known for her outstanding choices in repertoire and as a flexible and collaborative musician, she made huge contributions to many Rock Hill weddings, memorials, and weekly services. For 32 years, she was the organist at the Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, where she and her husband, Jack, also started the hand bell choirs. Though she retired from performing in 1995, she continued to teach well past her 90th birthday. Mrs. Tait served as an elder at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church where she was active in her Sunday School Class and Women's Circle. She was honored as a Presbyterian Women Life Member in 1973. Mrs. Tait was predeceased by her husband Jack, and by her daughter Catherine. Her survivors include her daughter Margaret Tait, granddaughters Carena Tait Liptak and Olivia Wu Tait, Carena's parents David and Pia Liptak of Rochester, NY, and Margaret's husband John Morrow and children MaryJane Morrow, and Jack Morrow of California. For those wishing to make memorial gifts in lieu of flowers, the family makes the following suggestions: the Walter B. Roberts Scholarship Fund for Pianists at Winthrop University, the SC Piano Festival Association, and the Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church. A memorial service will be held at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church on Friday, June 10, 2011, at 3:00 PM.

Service Information

Friday, June 10th, 2011 3:00pm, Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church