Dorsey Owens Wiley, Jr., transitioned to eternal rest on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, while sitting in his favorite chair watching television in Winston-Salem, NC. He heard God's call, closed his eyes and went to sleep. He was born May 6, 1943 in Danville, Virginia.
In 1953, his parents purchased land and built a home in Caswell County; this would become the family’s home. Dorsey accepted Christ at an early age, and he was baptized at Blackwell Baptist Church. After graduating from Caswell County High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served his country during the Vietnam era, working as a flight mechanic. Once his tour of duty was over, Dorsey returned to N.C.
In 1968, Dorsey, Jr., married Ann Forestene Griffin. Two daughters were born to this union.
Dorsey had a varied career; he worked as a lineman for Duke Power Company, , served as a police officer for the Eden Police Division, was eventually employed at Miller Brewing Company and ended his career as a very successful car salesman and sales manager at Danville Toyota. His slogan was “It’s the deal, the dealer, and Dorsey that make a great deal of difference.” He enjoyed traveling, spending quality time with family and friends, playing pinochle, golfing, and was a member of Danville Masonic Lodge and the American Legion Post 29.
After relocating to Winston-Salem, NC to live near his eldest daughter, Dorsey took pleasure in spending time with his “one and only good grandchild”, visiting with neighbors in his community, hanging out at his community clubhouse, and watching Gunsmoke, along with his many other favorite television shows. He attended church service with his children and granddaughter at Union Baptist Church in WinstonSalem, NC.
Dorsey was pre-deceased by his parents Dorsey and Mattie Pinnix Wiley of Caswell County, a sister Lily C. Wiley of Newton, Mass., and a brother Rudolph Prentice Wiley. He leaves to cherish his memory, two daughters, Tanya Wiley-Brown (Dorrel) of Winston Salem, N.C., and Zoi Dionne Wiley of New York, NY; a sister Andrea Wiley Bigelow (Troy) of Huntsville, Alabama; five brothers, Walter (Brenda) of Roanoke, Va., Ricardo (Vicky) of Hampton, Va., Elliott (Rosalyn) of Cockeysville, Md., Bernardo (Delores) of Blairs, Va., and Kenneth of Roanoke, Va.; a granddaughter, Taliyah Ziona Brown, who he adored; a goddaughter, Ellen Morgan (Rex) of Winston-Salem, NC, his former wife, Diane Mims of Danville, Va., along with a host of in-laws, nieces, grand nieces, nephews, grand nephews, cousins and friends.
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
