Constance "Dottee" Mitchell Rock

Constance Bernice Mitchell Rock affectionately known as “Dottee” was born on February 27, 1936, in Richmond, Virginia to the late Henry Patrick Mitchell Sr. and the late Martha Rebecca Anthony. She was called home on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at the Henrico Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was preceded in death by her parents; devoted husband, Lindsey Rock; two brothers, Henry Mitchell Jr. and Willie “Peg” Anthony; four sisters, Ann Earley, Audrey Jiggetts, Bertha Frye, and Laura Kincaid; nephew, Forrest Jiggetts III. and niece, Lisia Earley. Constance accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at St. John’s Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and served as an usher. She was educated in Richmond Public Schools where she graduated from Maggie L. Walker High School which she was extremely proud to call her alma mater. After graduation, she went to work at the “Hot Shoppe” where she crossed paths with the love of her life, Lindsey. The two joined in holy matrimony on July 28, 1976, and were happily married. She later went to work for Richmond Public Schools as a custodian at Mary Munford Elementary School where she worked until retirement. As an exceptional employee, her work ethic and positive attitude created opportunities for advancement. Constance was often called upon to City Hall to clean the Superintendent’s chambers. She worked overtime to ensure she had the means to give people what they needed. While never having a license, she loved getting around town. She would often ride the bus taking others with her downtown to Sixth Street Marketplace and eating at Anderson’s Grill on 2nd Street. Playing cards and listening to music was her thing. On any occasion, you could find her dancing, especially to her beloved Maxwell. “Pretty Wings” could get her out of any chair. She followed in her nephews, “FaFa” and Derwin’s footsteps by rooting for the Dallas Cowboys. She loved watching the Steve Harvey Show. Prior to the pandemic, she joined Saint Paul’s Baptist Church with her niece and nephew. In the last few years, she would have her nurses put the service on tv while she watched from bed. With the heart of a mother, Dottee and Lindsey raised generations. She loved her Washington Park community and everything she did was out of love. Their home was a place where you could be nourished with a home-cooked meal, take a hot shower, and get a good night’s rest on the daybed. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially family vacations to Florida where she could watch her nieces and nephews by the pool while playing bingo. She leaves to treasure her memory eight nieces, Sylvia Jiggetts-Seaborne (Raymond), Cynthia Armstrong, Tonya Terry, Martha Earley, Vivian Carrington all of Richmond, VA., Mona Frye and Patrice Hudson of Fredericksburg, VA., and Judy Kincaid of Elizabethton, TN.; six nephews, Derwin Jiggetts (LaKeisha), Rickey Earley, Hubert Earley, Rudolph Earley Jr. (Jackie), Vernard Williams all of Richmond, VA., and Aaron Frye Jr. (Denise) of Spotsylvania, VA.; and one brother-in-law, Aaron Frye Sr. of Fredericksburg, VA. When her sister, Audrey passed away suddenly, Aunt Dottee and Uncle Lindsey stepped in to care for her niece’s daughters. While overcoming a battle with breast cancer, she was determined not to see the kids in daycare because she wanted to keep them with family. “Aunt Dottee” was not your typical great aunt; when you left her house, she always wanted to make sure she slipped a little change in your hand. She leaves to cherish her legacy three great nieces, Sierra Seaborne and Audrya Jiggetts of Richmond, VA., and Sadé Garner (De’Marques) of Spotsylvania, VA.; one great nephew, Lamontre “Tre” Jiggetts of Manassas, VA. and a host of loving relatives and friends. She will be missed for her vocalized opinions, love for folding clothes, taste for KFC’s fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and Pepsi Cola, but most of all, we will miss the matriarch that kept us together. She left us with many memories and her favorite saying, “Don’t take no wooden nickels!” She was truly OUR BLESSING!

Tributes

Constance "Dottee" Mitchell Rock

February 27, 1936 - January 21, 2024