Dorothy "Dottie" Robinson Graham

Dorothy “Dottie” Robinson Graham, 77, of Rock Hill, SC, passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 4, surrounded by her family, after a ten-year hard-fought battle with metastatic breast cancer. Born on October 13, 1943, she was the daughter of the late William “Bill” Clark Robinson and Nola Roark Robinson of York, SC, and stepdaughter of the late Wilma Teague Robinson.

A lover of language and literature, Dottie spent her career as an instructor at Winthrop University and York Technical College. Her enthusiasm for teaching and dedication to her students were unsurpassed. She was particularly passionate about African-American and Native American literature. The creation of the Writing Center for Winthrop students was possibly the proudest achievement of her career.

Dottie was an amazing home chef who could cook practically anything, and her family’s favorites included her baked lasagna and the fresh coconut cake she made annually for her father’s birthday. She passed that talent on to her children, who attempt to replicate her dishes with varying degrees of success. She will be fondly remembered for her razor-sharp wit and her encyclopedic memory of quotations, anecdotes, books, and authors. But above all, she will be profoundly missed for the unwavering love and support she gave her children and grandchildren.

Dottie is survived by her husband, James “Jim” Gradford Graham of Rock Hill; her sister, Judy Robinson Sherer and husband Tommy of Sharon, SC; and her children and their families: Courtney Graham Hipp, husband Brian, and children Olivia and Cameron; William “Will” Gradford Graham, wife Amy, and children Kaylee and Thomas; and Justin Clark Graham, wife Jandy, and children Emily, Aidan, and Audrey, all of Rock Hill.

Visitation will be held Saturday, August 7 at 12:00 PM at Bass-Cauthen Funeral Home, 700 Heckle Boulevard in Rock Hill, with a memorial service at 1:00 PM. A graveside service will immediately follow at Grandview Memorial Park, 620 South Cherry Road, Rock Hill. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Community Care of York County at www.hospicecommunitycare.org/give-back.