Captain Dorothy "Dot" Ann Seay Trotter (Ret.)

Captain Dorothy "Dot" Seay Trotter (Ret.), 83, of Easley, South Carolina, beloved wife of the late James "Jimmy" Arthur Trotter, Jr., with whom she shared more than 50 years of marriage, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

Born on March 6, 1943, in Greenville County, South Carolina, she was a daughter of the late James and Bertha Carter Seay.

Dot's career with the Pickens County Sheriff's Office began on February 8, 1975, when she was hired as a dispatcher, one of the first two women hired by the office. She soon became the first woman from the office to attend the Police Academy and the first female officer to serve in Pickens County. She helped found the Criminal Investigation Division in 1976, later headed the Juvenile Division, and rose through the ranks to become Captain. Highly respected by her peers, Dot was named Officer of the Year and Detective of the Year during her career with Pickens County.

Those who served with her remember a woman of fierce energy and deep tenderness. She was courageous and bold, a force to be reckoned with, and she had a reputation for doing the right thing even when it was the hard thing. Over her years of handling cases of child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence, she changed how victims were cared for. She pressed for hospitals to provide victims with private space to wait for care, rather than the open waiting room. She also ensured patrol cars carried blankets and stuffed animals for victims at the scene of a crisis. She sat with victims of sexual assault over coffee to ease their nerves, she continually checked on children placed in foster care, and she even slept in children’s homes when necessary to keep them safe.

Her care for young people extended far beyond her badge. For years, Dot organized trips to Camp Cove Creek for groups of girls who needed someone in their corner. She arranged daily activities, outings, and guest speakers to create a week of mentorship and encouragement.

She believed in humility and listening. "I've grown because I've learned to listen more," she said. "If you don't grow or continue to change, then you need to move on to another job." It was a creed she lived by, pushing herself, year after year, to learn the work more deeply and serve the people of Pickens County better.

After 37 years of service, Captain Dot Trotter retired from Pickens County on December 31, 2012. She remained a proud and active member of the Fraternal Order of Police Foothills Lodge.

Faith was the cornerstone of Dot's life. A devoted and active member of Mt. Airy Baptist Church, she taught the Ladies 1 Sunday School Class, served as WMU director, participated in Young at Heart, and volunteered at the Life Center. She loved gospel music, and her faith was a steady source of strength and comfort through every season of her life.

Outside of work and worship, Dot lived fully and on her own terms. She was a gifted softball player from the 1960s through the 1990s, playing in various leagues and on a co-ed team for the police department. In 1960, she and her sister Betty were selected for the Pickens County All Stars team and went on to win the championship together, a memory she carried proudly. She was an avid South Carolina Gamecocks fan who cheered them on in every sport, especially football and women's basketball. She never lost her competitive streak and would watch crime shows, trying to solve the case before the detectives did. She also loved Western movies. As a talented seamstress, she took particular delight in making elaborate costumes for her son, Art. And one of her great joys in later years was traveling to Richmond, Virginia, to see him act and direct in community theater. She doted on her cats, and she had a lifelong soft spot for Elvis Presley, whose music was a steady presence in her home. She loved spending time with the people she cared about and had a way of making them feel cherished.

Dot's legacy is one of dedication, courage, and a loving spirit that touched all who knew her.

Dot is survived by two nieces, Karen Enderle (Chris) of Easley, South Carolina, and Angie Costner (Roy) of Liberty, South Carolina; two great-nieces, Ashley Enderle of Easley, South Carolina, and Tori Gibson of Liberty, South Carolina; two great-nephews, Paul Enderle of Asheville, North Carolina, and Roy Costner of Liberty, South Carolina; and a daughter-in-law, Alicia Lane of Narrows, Virginia.

In addition to her husband and parents, Dot is preceded in death by a son, James “Art” Arthur Trotter, III; three brothers, Huey Seay, Roy Seay, and Lewis Seay; and two sisters, Betty Childress and Cindy Seay.

Members and retirees of the Pickens County Sheriff's Office who worked alongside Dot will serve as honorary pallbearers. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in the Chapel of Robinson Funeral Home - Powdersville Road.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM until 1:45 PM on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at Robinson Funeral Home - Powdersville Road.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. Airy Missions in Memory of Dot Trotter. Please mail a check to Mt. Airy Baptist Church, 210 Mt. Airy Church Road, Easley, SC 29642. Online options available at https://www.mtairybaptist.com/giving

Visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home & Crematory - Powdersville Road, Easley.