Rosemary Wood Dodd will be remembered as a bright and colorful figure in Gainesville and a leader in the arts community.
Dodd died Wednesday morning at 87-years-old. She was well-known for her creativity and bold colors in her painting as well as her trademark multi-colored hair. She was a lover of all things Gainesville and a master storyteller with a wicked sense of humor, according to her obituary.
Dodd was born in Gainesville as an only child, but she created a family of worldwide friends that knew no boundaries. She was a graduate of Gainesville High School and Piedmont College where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Dodd had many claims to fame, including working jointly with Ed Cabell, former head of the fine arts division, Gainesville College, to create the Gainesville Theater Alliance, a joint endeavor by Gainesville College and Brenau University that became a nationally acclaimed theater program. She also served as Executive Director of the Gainesville College Foundation.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Dodd, the creator of the Mark Trail comic strip that appeared in hundreds of newspapers. Rosemary served as the Executive Director of the Ed Dodd/Mark Trail Foundation that later became part of Elachee Nature and Science Center, where she served as co-founder of the organization.
Dodd was also the co-founder of the Gainesville Ballet, Children’s Theater and the North Georgia Community Foundation. She was also instrumental in the founding of Lakeview Academy where she established and chaired the first Lakeview Auction which is now in its 50th year.
Dodd’s board participation was numerous including the Northeast Georgia History Center, Quinlan Art Museum, The Arts Council, Gainesville Junior Service League, Gainesville Ballet, Georgia Alliance for the Arts, Elachee Nature and Science Center, and Piedmont College Alumni Board.
“She served on every key committee that would enhance the community she loved. A prolific artist whose works grace many homes throughout North Georgia, she was instrumental in establishing the Blue Angel Gallery where she painted with fellow artists,” her obituary read.
Dodd received multiple awards including Rotary’s Woman of the Year, the Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction, the Arts Council Friend of the Arts, Quinlan’s Medallion, three fellowships from Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences, College Alumni Award; Gainesville Theater Service Award Piedmont; Northeast Georgia History Center Volunteer Award; and the National Daughters of the American Revolution American Heritage Women in the Arts Award – she was a 65-year member of DAR.
Dodd was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church, where her celebration of life will be held April 1 at 1pm, followed by a reception in the church Parish Hall.
Visitation will be held at Little-Davenport Funeral Home March 31 from 4pm to 7pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Episcopal Church.
For Rosemary Dodd’s full obituary, click here.
