Dorothy (“Dot”) Crymes Tucker, 88, of Drakes Branch, VA, died May 24 at her home.  The daughter of the late Walter Love Crymes and Annie Violet Wilson Crymes of Keysville, VA, Dot was born on Sept. 20, 1928, and graduated from Randolph-Henry High School.  She then became a student at Longwood College in Farmville as had her mother, grandmother, and aunt. She also attended Johnston Willis Nursing School in Richmond.  She married Otis O. (“Sam”) Tucker, Jr. in 1951.

Dot was predeceased by her husband and a granddaughter, Heather Anne-Darlene Tucker.  Survivors include three children and their spouses:  Dorothy Faye Acree and her husband Brant of Wylliesburg, VA; Otis O. (“Bo”)Tucker, III, and his wife, Sharon, of Drakes Branch, VA; and W. David Tucker and his wife, Tricia, of Clarksville, VA.  She is also survived by four grandchildren:  Kristin Tucker Tharpe of Drakes Branch; Brantley Acree, III of Atlantic Beach, NC; Daniel Tucker of Drakes Branch, VA; and Hannah-Rose Tucker of Durham, NC.   Her great-grandchildren include Tucker and Clark Tharpe, Isabelle and Wolfgang Acree, and Kaydan Tucker.  In addition, she has a sister, Beth Wenger, of Richmond, and two nephews.

For 49 years Dot was involved in the family’s newspaper business.  She began as editor and publisher of The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch in 1966 and assistant editor of The Charlotte Gazette following the death of her brother-in-law, “Jitt” Franklin, who had co-owned the business with her husband, Sam.  When Sam died in 1981, she became publisher and editor of The Charlotte Gazette as well.  At that time, her two sons also joined the business.

Dot was proud of never having missed a deadline during her decades of publishing the paper.  According to her daughter, she was a fierce businesswoman who was actively involved in every aspect of the newspaper business and led the two weekly papers through many major changes in publishing.  She retired from the business in 2015 at the age of 86.

A devoted mother and grandmother, she loved vegetable gardening, especially raising her tomatoes.  She was also an avid reader who enjoyed cooking for her family and was known for her Brunswick stews and many other dishes.

She was a charter member of Charlotte Country Club and a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Drakes Branch.

Visitation with the family was held on Friday, May 26, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville.  A graveside service was held on May 27 at 4 p.m. at the Drakes Branch Presbyterian Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Drakes Branch Fire Dept., P. O. Box 323, Drakes Branch, VA 23937, or to the Charlotte County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 330, Keysville, VA 23947.  The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville, VA, is serving the family.