Alice White Dorn

Alice White Dorn, 100, passed away Sunday, February 28, 2021 at her home in Central, SC.

Alice was born in South Miami, Florida, the only daughter of the late Harold Wesley and Mabel Frances White Dorn, who were pioneers of the area that would eventually become part of a bustling city. Throughout her life, Alice fondly told stories of a happy childhood "growing up in the sticks" and recounted tales of the early days of a bygone era where she and her brothers ran barefoot through the groves of mangoes, avocados, and citrus, eating fruit directly from the trees.

Her parents were pioneers in tropical horticulture. Her father and his brother Robert built a thriving tropical fruit business, shipping the new crops of mangoes and avocados to various cities throughout the country. Her mother wrote books and gave lectures on tropical flora and started the first garden club of South Florida. They were surrounded by good friends Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, David Fairchild, and John Gifford, all notable pioneers.

Alice attended Shorter College prior to enlisting in the Marines in WWII, where she was stationed at Cherry Point NC. Upon her return she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Miami in 1948 and a Master of Social Work from Boston University in 1951. Her career in social work spanned 30 years, with positions in Boston Children's Hospital, the Cleveland Psychiatric Institute, and Case Western Reserve University. It was at Case Western that she met her beloved friend and long-term companion, Helen J. Stacy. Alice and Helen moved to Central, SC in 1980, where they lived in retirement and enjoyed a quiet life. Alice enjoyed visiting her summer cottage in nearby Highlands NC, attending classes at the Center for Lifelong Learning, travel, book clubs with friends, and keeping up with current events. She was a devout animal lover and gave a home to countless cats and dogs over the years. She was a member and volunteer at Fort Hill Presbyterian Church, where she made many friends. She had a wonderful sense of independence that was unique for women of her era; her laugh and quirky sensibility will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by a large extended family of nieces and nephews including Pam Brown, NC; Sherri Lynn, WA; Karen McFalls, Barbara Watts, Jennifer Diaz, and Philip Dorn all of GA; Ric Davenport, CT; Julie Bullard, Kristin Koepenick, and Joshua Evans all of GA; Leslie Allen, NC; Becky Evans, MT and many other great and great-great nieces and nephews.

In her final years, Alice was blessed with many enriching relationships with friends and caregivers in the Central and Clemson community. There are too many to enumerate, but beloved to Alice were Pamela Rupert, Faye Stancil, Vicki Strickland, Nancy Oates, Rose Marie MacDonald, and Mary Hughes.

In addition to her parents, Alice was predeceased by her brothers: Lewis Dorn of Highlands, NC; Philip Dorn and Kenneth Dorn of Miami Florida; her niece Katherine Evans of Dahlonega, GA, and Helen Stacy.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 PM, Thursday, May 20th at Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Humane Society of your choice.

Visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home and Cremations, Central-Clemson Commons.