Dorothy Ann Dye Burns passed away on Jan. 3, 2015 in Walterboro, S.C. Born Oct. 9, 1923 in Dayton, Ohio, she was the daughter of Charles F. Dye and Ruth Feree Dye. Her father worked for the Dayton Electric Company, which was later purchased by General Motors. When her father was promoted to secretary of the president of GM, Dorothy and her two brothers moved with the family to Birmingham, Mich. She received a BA degree from Michigan State University.

She met Col. Edmund D. Griffin Jr. in Oscoda, Mich. where he was training French pilots. During their courtship, Dorothy took private flying lessons and successfully soloed on her 11th flight. They were married in 1946.

The colonel was stationed in Germany shortly after the end of WWII. Known to her family and friends as spirited and somewhat mischievous, Dorothy taught herself German and surprised her husband by showing up in Germany with the intention of staying there for the duration of her husband’s tour of duty.

Upon returning to the United States, the couple lived in Washington, D.C. where Colonel Griffin was affiliated with NATO.

They purchased property in Bluffton, S.C. and eventually bought Cotton Hall, a plantation in Yemassee, S.C. With an eye for interesting real estate, she acquired the Mercer House in Savannah, Ga. This house was later renovated by Jim Williams and was central to the movie, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”

Always an adventurer, Dorothy raised Angus cattle at Cotton Hall and on Savage Island near Bluffton. In her spare time, she took oil painting lessons, learned to use a palette knife to good effect and became a credible amateur painter in her own right.

Later, she married Howard Burns of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and for years assisted him with managing Martin-Burns, a clothing store. She eventually moved to Tryon, N.C. There she was known as “The Story Lady” at Forbes School. She also assisted with make-up and prompting at the Tryon Little Theater.

Dorothy will be remembered for her feisty spirit, her gracious hospitality, her love of aesthetic beauty and her delight in animals. At one point, she actually had nine cats and dogs who drove with her each morning in her little Ford Escort to pick up a newspaper at the local Triangle Stop.

She is survived by her son, Edmund Griffin, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., her daughter, Leslie Griffin (Mike Abbott), of Summerville, S.C. and her brother, John T. Dye (Jayne) of Lancaster, Ohio.

Memorial gifts may be made in honor of Dorothy’s love for animals to Foothills Humane Society, P.O. Box 126, Tryon, N.C. 28782.

 

JoAnn Mary Markovic

 

JoAnn Mary Markovic, wife of Peter Markovic, of Tryon, N.C. passed away Saturday morning, Jan. 17, 2015 at her home.

No services are planned.