By Donna Dues

We are pleased to spotlight a prominent figure in our lives who has played a central role in us knowing, understanding and celebrating Black history in this community. Dorothy Pearl Lewis-Fisher is a lifelong resident of West Columbia, a graduate of Charlie Brown High School Class of 1953, and I am proud to say she is my mother.

Affectionately known as “Babe,” “Baby Sister,” “Sister Fisher” and “Mother Fisher,” this spry and sharp nonagenarian is an enthusiastic historian, photographer and cornerstone of faith. She gives in so many ways to the community and is truly a jack of all trades.

Let’s start her story from the beginning …

Dorothy Pearl Lewis was born on June 23, 1933, to Fletcher Norwood Lewis and Beatrice “Birdie” Black Lewis. She is one of six children to this union. She had four brothers and one sister. She attended West Columbia public schools during the time of segregation and graduated from Charlie Brown High School in 1953.

In her youth, she was an avid basketball player. When you see her, be sure to ask about her giving them the old “left hook shot.” She will light up!

In 1956, Dorothy married her “Honey,” Joe Louis Fisher of Markham, Texas (in neighboring Matagorda County). January 29, 2024, would have been their 68th wedding anniversary. Joe passed away in 1998 at the age of 63.

Dorothy gave birth to three children — Ronald Elliott Fisher, Donna Jo Fisher Dues and Darryl Glen Fisher (deceased), and she’s a loving grandmother of five, great-grandmother of eight, great-great-grandmother of one, and aunt and godmother to countless more.

Dorothy traveled the world with her military husband who was a sergeant in the U.S. Army. Together with their children, Joe and Babe Fisher lived in Germany, Fort Hood and in many U.S. locales before settling their family back in West Columbia. And while she did not attend a college or university, Babe brags about earning a prestigious bachelor degree in domestic engineering from the School of Life as a devoted Army wife and mother.

Presently you will find Dorothy participating in many community enrichment activities. Dot does not hold formal credentials as a historian but has collected and preserved so much local history through the years out of her own interests. In fact, she’s a chief historian for her alma mater, Charlie Brown High School, after it closed following the integration of West Columbia schools. She takes great pride and makes huge personal investments in the Charlie Brown School Reunions which occur every two years in West Columbia.

Dorothy was also a photographer and historian for the Christian Senior Citizens Center in West Columbia and a frequent “guest columnist” (of sorts) for The Brazosport Facts and The Brazoria County News when it was still being published.

She served as lead usher for more than 30 years at Blue Run Baptist Church in West Columbia and currently serves as a spiritual mother to parishioners at Open Door Community Church in Houston.

Because of her military experiences, Dorothy is wildly patriotic. She loves politics and flags waving in the wind and faithfully supports local events honoring our soldiers. When she isn’t monitoring national news, you will likely find her working in her yard, doing craft projects, playing the piano or maintaining records for the West Columbia Paradise Cemetery where she has dutifully served as secretary for decades.

Please join me, her daughter, in celebrating this living legend and amazing figure in the history of our city, Dorothy Fisher. And to underscore just how hip she is, you can follow her @DotFisher and @mrsdpfisher on Facebook or Instagram, respectively!