Dorothy (Dot) Byrd Heape

Dorothy (Dot) Byrd Heape, 85, of Savannah, Georgia passed away in the comfort of her home on Sunday, July 13, 2025. She is now reunited in Heaven with her loving husband Robert (Bob) Edward Heape, Jr. Dot was born on May 15, 1940, in LaFrance, South Carolina. After graduating from Pendleton High School, she graduated from Carolina School of Commerce. It was at this time that Dot met the love of her life, Robert, who was a civil engineering student at Clemson Agriculture College of South Carolina (later renamed Clemson University). The two were married on June 19, 1960. After their marriage, they moved to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri where they began their family. After a brief move to Alexandria, Virginia they moved to Savannah, Georgia in 1964. It was here that they made their home and raised their four children.

Dot was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. As a woman of great faith, Dot served Christ Jesus, her Lord and Savior, in many capacities as a dedicated member of Windsor Forest Baptist Church for most of her life and was a member of Bible Baptist Church of Savannah later in life. Her greatest ministry was her love of children. She was the long-standing nursery director at the church. She also was the director of a local day care for many years. God blessed her with the talent of playing the piano. Together, Dot and Robert shared God’s message with her piano playing and his singing. Dot also served the church family by preparing and cooking churchwide dinners and was the bereavement ministry coordinator providing meals to church members and their families in times of need.

Dot’s favorite past times and hobbies were knitting, crocheting, and when the grandchildren came along, scrap booking. Her love of these hobbies is evidenced by the number of beautiful Afghans, blankets and detailed scrapbooks in her home and in the homes of friends and family. Dot loved to share her talents with others and as a result there are many family members and friends who learned the art of knitting and crocheting from her.

Dot and Robert were never apart during their 59-year marriage. They enjoyed traveling and camping. Dot’s most memorable trips where to Alaska, Zion National Park (more impressive to her than the Grand Canyon), and their mission trips to Romania. Dot continued to “spend time” with “her Robert” even after his death in 2020 by frequently writing him Love Notes on various scrapes of paper.

Dot is now reunited in Heaven with her husband Robert Edward Heape, Jr; her parents Henry Earl Byrd and Doretta Mauldin Byrd; and her brother Jack Rowen Byrd.

Dot is survived by her children David Edward Heape, MD and his wife Lisa, Mark Anthony Heape and his wife Beth (Pharm D); Karen Leann Heape, Stephen Earl Heape (Pharm D) and his wife Kerry; grandchildren Rachael Heape Sopcic and her husband Neal (daughter of Mark and Beth), Brian Heape and his wife Caroline, and Kristin Heape Giles and her husband Andrew (son and daughter of David and Lisa), and Mallory Heape, RN, Brenna Heape, and Natalie Heape (daughters of Stephen and Kerry); sister Emily Byrd McKeon; and friend Melissa Vaughn Jones.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hubert C. Baker Chapel (7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, Georgia 31406, (912-927-1999). Family will greet friends from 4:00 pm until the time of the memorial service at 5:00 pm. Burial will be on Friday, July 18, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Beaufort National Cemetery on U.S. Highway 21 South (Boundary Street) in Beaufort, South Carolina. Dr. Jim Staubes will officiate the funeral service and Mike Brainerd will officiate the committal service at Beaufort National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Remembrances may be made to the Christian children’s charity of your choice.