Dorothy Lenora McClellan was born in Gainesville Florida on September 21, 1925. She was youngest of four children of Lenora Taylor McClellan and Daniel Lawrence McClellan. As a child, she was known "Dot" by family and friends. In the early years, she grew up in Gainesville Florida where she attended Lincoln Elementary school and graduated from Lincoln High School. Dorothy came from a family of teachers who highly valued education. It was only natural that she would also chose teaching as her profession.
She continued her education at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama and made many lifelong friends there. Dorothy transferred to Detroit Institute of Technology where she received a Bachelors of Science degree in 1946. She continued her studies at Tennessee State University in 1947 where she completed her teaching qualifications.
She later moved to Chicago where she began teaching at Shiloh Adventist Academy and after a year, served as Principal in 1949. That same year, she met John Ham-Ying and married him the following year. John would go on to attend medical school, so Dot returned home to Gainesville and began teaching Science at her alma matter Lincoln High School. She would go on to teach Science for more than 25 years.
In 1951, the young couple celebrated the arrival of their first-born son, John Russel. Five years later they were blessed with another son, John Michael in 1956. In 1960, John and Dorothy moved to Buchanan, Michigan where John began his practice as a doctor. In 1962 their first daughter, Lemoy was born and in 1972, the family was complete with the arrival of SuiYan. The family lived in Buchanan for the next 20 years until they separated in 1980.
She was very busy during those years in Michigan looking after her family. However, in 1968 she would begin the fight of her life with Breast Cancer. She successfully beat it and was a survivor for almost 50 years until she died. Her journey would enable her to counsel and bring personal encouragement to other women embarking on their journey and how to face life after Breast Cancer.
Dorothy was a devout Seventh-day Adventist. She loved the Lord dearly and continually wanted to share His love with those around her. She enjoyed her daily Bible readings and was ever faithful. Her faith led her to want to give back. She would raise money for many causes that were dear to her heart such as the fight against Cystic Fibrosis, Breast Cancer, MS and supporting college scholarships for needy students. Dot had style. She always carried herself with grace and a wonderful sense of fashion. She had a quick wit and was a strong woman in her own right. She loved to entertain and often hosted church events and dinner parties. Dorothy also enjoyed travel and visited many countries across the world. She was an exercise enthusiast and loved her 5-mile daily walks and bike riding well into her 80’s.
During her retirement years, Dorothy moved back to Florida where she lived with her son Michael in West Palm Beach and Orlando. In 2000, Dorothy moved to Atlanta to live with her daughter SuiYan until the next 14 years. However, Florida was always “home,” and returned in 2014.
Dorothy went to rest in the arms of Jesus on December 14, 2017 peacefully in her sleep. She joins her siblings Thelma Jordan, Mildred Britton and Daniel McClellan Jr. who preceded her in rest. While we celebrate her life, she leaves to always cherish her memory – and the joy she was to us all, her four children, John Russel (Trisha), John Michael (Franeco), Dorothy Cherelyn Lemoy (Pang) and Dorothy SuiYan DeEtta; her four grandsons, Jared, Julien, Morgann and Liam; nephews, Lawrence “Kim”, Danny, Rupert, Phillip, Volney, Donavan, Alvin, Linhuang; nieces, Pamela, April, Thelma “Jakki”, Jewel and Linda and numerous cousins and a host of friends, all who loved her dearly.