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TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE DOROTHY MOBLEY JONES OF CHAPIN, TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE, AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened by the passing of the Honorable Dorothy Mobley Jones of Chapin on January 20, 2021, at the age of sixty-eight; and
Whereas, born in Union on October 7, 1952, she was the daughter of Foster Evans Mobley and Mary Louise Mobley. Known affectionately as "Dottie," she graduated from Columbia's A.C. Flora High School in 1970. Dottie attended the University of South Carolina, graduating in 1974, with a bachelor's degree in education and a minor in French. After teaching high school English and French for a year, she earned a Juris Doctor at the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1978; and
Whereas, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Rodney A. Peeples, circuit court judge of the Second Judicial Circuit, from 1978 to 1979. Following her clerkship, she entered private practice with the law firm of Yarborough, Fallon & Mobley in Florence and engaged in general practice for four years. In 1983, she associated with the law firm of Harvey L. Golden, P.A., and began what would become a lifelong specialization in the practice of family law; and
Whereas, in 1994, Dottie and Ken A. Lester, Esquire, formed the law firm of Lester & Jones, which specialized in family law and served clients throughout South Carolina. In 2005, she was elected by the General Assembly to the position of family court judge in the Fifth Circuit. Judge Jones regarded her election to this position as an honor and a sacred opportunity to serve. She retired from the court in December 2018, and began a mediation practice to allow litigants an opportunity to expedite the resolution of their conflicts; and
Whereas, an advocate and teacher of the law to other lawyers for the past thirty years, she participated as a guest lecturer in numerous legal seminars sponsored by the South Carolina Bar. She served on the Family Court Judges Advisory Committee and was a past chair of the Family Law Executive Council; and
Whereas, well respected in her profession, Judge Jones received many accolades, including the Matthew J. Perry Civility Award in 2014, and the Buchan, Brown & Jacobs Award in 2015, given in recognition of her family court service by her fellow family court judges; and
Whereas, at the time of her retirement, Judge Jones was interviewed for an article in a South Carolina Bar Association publication and asked what she regarded as the highlight of her judicial service. She replied that it was helping neglected or abused children and seeking to create stability in their lives. She sought to do this through adoptions and working closely with lawyers to find creative solutions to achieve the best results for the children. This sentiment was indicative of the virtues of compassion, kindness, respect, and civility, which she extended to everyone she met in her life; and
Whereas, she leaves to cherish her memory her son, Fendley Jones, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, many of whom she housed for various periods of time and with whom she shared holidays and vacations throughout her life. She will be greatly missed. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of the Honorable Dorothy Mobley Jones of Chapin, celebrate her life, and extend the deepest sympathy to her family and many friends.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Fendley Jones for the family.
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