The city of Bloomingdale’s Mayor and Council meet two or more times a month to conduct city business and argue political stands, but on Oct. 6 their focus was on a grey-haired lady sitting quietly in the front row.
Surrounded by family and former neighbors, 86-year-old Dorothy Adams thought she was there to honor a member of her Alpha United Methodist Church family. That is, until Mayor Wayne Tipton stepped to the front of the platform and called her name.
Refusing assistance, the surprised lady smiled and stepped forward to accept the mayor’s plaque. It was obvious she was embarrassed by all the attention.
“I don’t live in Bloomingdale anymore,” said Dot Adams.
Still recovering from months of medical problems, “Mrs. Dot,” as everyone in town calls her, said she had moved her into an assisted living community at Savannah Square. She continued speaking, sharing her new address and phone number.
“Everyone is invited to visit, but call first. I’m very busy and don’t stay in my apartment much,” she said. “I’m the baby there, and I have to keep up.”
She grew up Dorothy Carr in the shadow of the Springfield jail. Her father was the sheriff and her mom cooked for his prisoners.
She never considered living anywhere else until she met and later married Frank Adams. The newlyweds moved to an apartment in Garden City and later back to Frank’s family farm in Bloomingdale.
Her husband’s grandfather had come to the area as a circuit preacher, and the nearby Methodist church was an extension of their family home.
Dorothy quickly got involved in the local congregation. She kept the church nursery for 17 years and raised funds for stained-glass windows.
When the Baptist preacher left town with no one to run the local community food pantry, Mrs. Dot stepped up. She operated the multi-church project for more than 20 years, faithfully seeing to it that those in need got the vital nutrients they needed to survive.
She also took an interest in their lives and struggles, above and beyond what was required.
Tipton read the plaque thanking her for her years of community service.
Resident Linda Denhardt stood to add her comments: “I just wanted to say that it is now taking eight people to replace Mrs. Dot at the food pantry. That just goes to show how valuable she was.”
Tipton smiled and said: “She is an example of someone who goes about duties quietly, out of the limelight, never expecting anything in return. That makes this recognition very special.”