Obituary
On March 13, 2022, our beloved Dorothy Ruth Rivers, transitioned peacefully after years of declining health. Ruth was born in Lakewood, NJ and was the second eldest child of four children born to Frank J. and Sara Bragg White.
At an early age, Ruth relocated with her family to Philadelphia, PA where she was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System. She later relocated to Dinwiddie, VA to live with her grandparents where she graduated as a member of Southside High School Class of 1958.
Ruth attended the University of Pennsylvania School Of Nursing in Philadelphia, PA, graduating as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She also attended Virginia State College.
Ruth met her future husband, Raymond, in 1955. They were married in 1960 and soon after, she began her storied career spanning 44 years as a Nurse at the Petersburg General Hospital and went on to retire from the Southside Regional Medical Center, Petersburg, VA.
For over 60 years, Ruth was an active member of the Sharon Baptist Church, Dinwiddie, VA where she served on the usher board, was a Sunday School teacher, sang in the Senior Choir, was a member of the Daisy Rivers Goodwill Memorial Auxiliary, was a Deaconess and later a Deacon and was an active member of the church bible study - where she and her husband won certificates for outstanding attendance.
In addition to her parents Frank J. and Sara Bragg White, Ruth was preceded in death by her sisters, Kathleen “Delores” Whitted and Shirley Pride.
Ruth leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of over 61 years, Deacon Raymond J. Rivers of Dinwiddie, VA; daughters, Lynn M. Rivers of Springfield, VA, Alicia R. Rivers-White (Vincent) of Sandston, VA and Jennifer C. Rivers (Esther) of Glen Allen, VA; one brother, James “Jimmy” White (Rosalind) of Voorhees, NJ; grandchildren, Sidney S. Donigan (Sheridan) of South Chesterfield, VA and Raymond J. White of Sandston, VA; brother-in-law, James R. Rivers (Annie) of Baltimore, MD and sister-in- law, Deacon Annie R. Dailey of Petersburg, VA. She also leaves a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
The Rivers family wishes to thank the following for all of their dedication and service, Stephanie Spencer, Meekelia Wiggins, Juliet Winfield, and the team at Amedisys Home Hospice. If so moved, please consider making a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association @ act.alz.org.
A visitation will be on Thursday, March 17, 2022 from 1:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. at the J.L. Dodson and Sons Funeral Establishment – Petersburg, Va.
Celebration Of Life Services for Deacon Dorothy Ruth W. Rivers will be conducted on Friday, March 18, 2022 at 12noon, at the Sharon Baptist Church, 26804 Fort Emory Rd., North Dinwiddie, VA 23803. Rev. Terry Norman, Pastor, Officiant and Rev. Dr. Herbert W. Anderson, Eulogist, Rocky Branch Baptist Church, Sutherland VA. Interment will follow in the Dinwiddie Memorial Park, 7324 Church Road, Petersburg, Virginia.
Immediate family is asked to assemble at the residence, 8502 Squirrel Level Road, at 11:00 a.m. on the day of the service.
Service may be viewed by Livestream at/https://www.jldodsonandsons.com/LiveStream
Professional funeral services have been entrusted to the staff of the J.L. Dodson and Sons Funeral Establishment, 25824 Greensville Avenue, Petersburg, Va. 23803, Rev. Jeffrey L. Dodson Sr., Funeral Director, (804) 732-5959. Online condolences may be registered at www.jldodsonandsons.com “Our Family Servicing Your Family”
Masks are required at all services and visitation.
To send a flower arrangement in memory of Deacon Dorothy W. Rivers, please click here to visit our sympathy store.