Dora Jean "Dodie" Williams

God placed a caring and adventurous spirit in a beautiful person, and for all of the years Dodie was on this Earth, she graciously shared her love, strength, encouragement, and vibrancy with everyone.

Dora Jean (Tomlin) Williams was fondly known as Dodie, Shuga Jr., Pudnin, Mom, Grandma and Auntie. She was born to Hayward and Dorothy (Solomon) Tomlin on September 30, 1944 in Bakersfield, California. Seven years later her baby brother Michael Lawrence Tomlin arrived to complete the family.

Dodie graduated from Garces Memorial High School in 1962. She married the love of her life - Dr. Audie Williams on November 28, 1964, and from their union, they were blessed with two daughters - Maria and Tresa.

While balancing work and family, Dodie graduated from Lufkins Business College in 1965, received her AA from Bakersfield College in 1976 and then attended California State University Bakersfield.

Dodie was a dedicated public servant. She regularly volunteered, served on several boards, and received countless awards and recognition for her community outreach efforts. Over the course of her 35-year career, she worked for the Kern County Economic Opportunity Program, the Kern County High School District, the American Red Cross, and the Kern County Sheriff’s Department.

Dodie was a dedicated professional, but also valued her free time. She loved to cook, travel, shop and spend time with family and friends.

She was a very proud Mom and Grandma and delighted in watching her children and grandchildren discover their true potential and excel on their chosen paths.

Serving the Lord was always very important to Dodie. Early in her life she worshiped at St. Francis Catholic Church with her mother Dorothy and her brother Michael. Later her family joined St. John Missionary Baptist Church where she served as a faithful member of the Usher Board, and in recent years she began attending Cain Memorial A.M.E. Church.

Dodie was a multifaceted jewel. She was a creative, quick-witted, ambitious, intelligent, versatile, resourceful, independent, joyful person who had a positive impact on everyone who was fortunate enough to meet her.

With her family by her side and her life’s mission fulfilled, Dodie was called back to

the heavenly arms of the Lord, on the afternoon of her birthday, Friday, September 30, 2022.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Hayward and Dorothy (Solomon) Tomlin.

She leaves to celebrate her Heavenly Homegoing and treasure her loving memory: her younger brother Michael Tomlin of Long Beach, California, her loving husband of 57 years, Dr. Audie Williams of Bakersfield, California; her daughters, Dr. Maria Williams-Slaughter of Lakewood, California and Tresa Williams of Bakersfield, California. Her sister-in-law: Dr. Luelinda Tomlin, her nephews: Ashley Tomlin and Geoffrey Tomlin, her sons-in-law: Michael Slaughter and Kevin Ealy, her grandchildren: Brenden Williams-Rufus, Lauryn Slaughter, Kyle Slaughter, Attia Ealy and Marcus Ealy, and a host of other relatives and friends.