Ptomey knew all the area's history

Those who knew Dorothy 'Dot' Weaver Ptomey knew her for her sense of humor and most called her a 'walking history book'. Ptomey, 98, died July 29.

Although she was born Dorothy Oreve Weaver in Pine Hill, Ala., in 1922 she spent most of her life in Flomaton. She also has the distinction of being the first female ever elected to the Flomaton Town Council and her father Luman Dewey Weaver served as the town's mayor from 1956 to 1964. But it's her mind and her love of Flomaton that comes to life when people talk about her.

"She's the biggest historian we had in this area," said Jerry Fischer. "She was a walking history book."

Fischer said Dot called him about two years ago and told him she had something she wanted to show him. When Fischer arrived at her home on Wilkerson Street in Flomaton she presented him with what he called the next thing to gold.

"She had notes from throughout the years about Flomaton and Century," Fischer said. "She told me that she and I would be the only ones who would appreciate it and made me copies."

"She knew things from around here way before I was born," Fischer said. "She and I talked a lot and shared the same passion for history. We had so much in common, if she was a person about my age I'd have married her. She was a beautiful person."

"If I ever had a question I would call her," Fischer said. "I learned a lot from Dot. I learned she loved lima beans, she loved Flomaton and she loved Flomaton High School."

Ptomey was the last surviving member of the Flomaton High School class of 1940. In 1943 she entered to Mobile Infirmary School of Nursing.

Several months into her freshman year, the school came under the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corp, a World War II program.

When the war ended it also ended the Cadet Nurse Program and the school closed. Ptomey transferred to the Mississippi Baptist School of Nursing in Jackson, Miss., for her senior year and graduated in 1946.

She came home when Dr. Sam Tuberville recruited her to come to work at Tuberville Hospital in Century. She eventually became a co-owner of the hospital.

She spent most of her career as an operating nurse and returned to school to become a nurse anesthetist, graduating from Baptist Medical Center School of Anesthesia in Birmingham. She served as the only anesthetist for the county hospital in Century and was available for other local hospitals.

After more than 39 years as a nurse, Ptomey retired in 1985.

A lifelong member of Flomaton United Methodist Church, Ptomey later began attending services and Bible studies at Century United Methodist Church.

"I thought to myself when I learned she died that a lot of history was lost from both towns," said Janet Lee, pastor of Century United Methodist Church.

In addition to her recollection of history, Lee said Ptomey had a great sense of humor.

"Dot was one of the funniest people I've every known," Lee said. "She had the ability to laugh at herself. Dot came to Bible study the past two years and her ability to recall things was unbelievable. Sometimes she couldn't tell you what she ate for breakfast but she could recall what she did in kindergarten."

Lee also said Ptomey took her faith very personally saying she was a 'dyed in the wool' Methodist and very faithful in her church life.

"You didn't have to wonder what she thought because she would tell you," Lee said.

She also recalls when Ptomey was in her early 90s, she was caught on the top of her own house sweeping off leaves.

Lee said she talked to Dot the Thursday before she died and was still amazed with what she could talk about, like it was yesterday.

"She was Flomaton's historian," said Betty A. Jones. "She was a whole book of Flomaton history.

Jones knew Dot through many community projects that included the Flomaton Research Club and said Ptomey was instrumental in preserving the old log cabin, know as the Renfroe Home, which is now located next to the Alabama Welcome Center and Railroad Museum in Flomaton.

"She was really involved in restoring the old log cabin," Jones said. "She believed in keeping history alive for others to see. You could ask her a question about the history of Flomaton and she knew it off the top of her head."

Jones said Ptomey kept a book of notes she wrote about Flomaton's history and hopes that book has been preserved.

"If you wanted to know about Flomaton, you asked Dot," Jones said. "Sometimes you'd get more than you asked for but you got the history."

Ptomey's graveside service was held at noon, Aug. 1, at Flomaton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Flomaton Cemetery Trust Fund, at Escambia County Bank, P.O. Box 601, Flomaton, Ala., 36441 or the charity of your choice.