Doris Reese Cann

Doris Cann passed away Sunday, November, 24th, 2024. Doris was born in Birmingham, AL on April 7, 1933. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Reese and her brother Louie, all from Birmingham.

She is survived by her daughter Sybil Ulmer and her son Adrian of Birmingham, her son Reese and his wife Nancy of Woodstock, GA, their daughter Jaclyn of Somerville, MA and son Brian of Avondale Estates, GA.

Doris earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech therapy from the University of Alabama and a Master’s degree in Mental Retardation for East Tennessee State Univ. She was a member of the honorary society Alpha Psi Omega. Her profession as a speech/language pathologies brought her great satisfaction to better the lives of her clients.

Her greatest joy in childhood was being part of Girl Scouts which influenced her adult life as a volunteer. Doris served as a leader in girl scouting, leader and trainer in Cub scouts, established an annual day camp for Cub scouts, and served as a commissioner, resulting in her being the first woman in the U.S. to be awarded the Wood Badge. 

She also developed a love for crafts resulting from both scouting and from her grandmother’s needlework tutelage. Beginning in 1982, she began selling her handmade American Girl doll clothes and other crafts at the Lynchburg Community Market.

Doris lived most of her adult life in Lynchburg, volunteering as a Docent at Poplar Forest, participating in the Inglewood Garden Club, and serving on the boards of the Friends of the Market, Joseph Nichols Tavern and a board for the intellectually challenged.

Religion was always an important part of her life. She was involved in many aspects of the churches she joined, from Sunday School teacher to Deaconess. She had been a member of Peakland Baptist since 1979.

Her greatest joy was the friends that she made.

A private ceremony will be conducted at Peakland Baptist Church followed by a funeral service conducted by the Reverend Kearse in the chapel of Westminster-Canterbury at 11 A.M. on Friday, December 20, 2024. A reception will follow in the Hume Room. Those wishing to make memorial contributions, please consider Peakland Baptist, 4018 Peakland Place, Lynchburg, VA 24503.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Westminster-Canterbury for their loving and tender care. Tharp Funeral Home is assisting the family. 

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.