Arie (Thomas) Dozier

We gather here today to celebrate the life and legacy of a remarkable soul, Sister Arie Dozier, who was called to her eternal rest on the 25th of July, 2024. Born on the 6th of March, 1932, in the nurturing town of Headland, Alabama, Sister Arie was a beacon of light and a vessel of unwavering faith throughout her blessed 92 years on this earth.

Sister Arie, a daughter of the soil, was born to the late Ike Thomas and Vassie Bracken. She blossomed amidst the love and toil of Henry County, Alabama, where she learned the values of hard work, devotion, and the power of community. Her journey took her to the bustling city of Chicago, Illinois, where she resided for sixty-one fruitful years, before the call of home brought her back to her roots in Headland.

A faithful servant of the Lord, Sister Arie was a dedicated member of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church under the stewardship of Reverend Clay Evans. Her spirit found its true expression in worship and fellowship, and she carried that same spirit to the Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, where she continued to serve under the guidance of Pastor Delvick McKay. Sister Arie's life was a testament to her faith-filled and spirited nature. She walked in the light of the Lord and spread joy and kindness wherever she went. Her laughter was a balm to the weary, her wisdom a guide to the lost, and her love a warm embrace to all who were blessed to know her.

Though we mourn her departure, we take solace in knowing that Sister Arie is now cradled in the arms of the Almighty, reunited with her beloved family who preceded her in glory: her parents, her sisters Corine Bowick and Nellie Thomas Clayton, her brothers Rufus, Moses, Walter, Author, and Otis, and her cherished children Roy Frank Dozier, Ola Mae Arnold, Alfonzo Dozier, and Aries Lee Dozier.

Sister Arie's legacy lives on through those she leaves behind to cherish her memory. Her sister, Ola Mae Moore of Dothan, Alabama, stands as a pillar of the family's strength. Her grandson, Bryan Antione Dozier, carries her spirit from the streets of Chicago to the community of Eastampton, New Jersey. Her granddaughters Carman Michelle Arnold, Jennifer Arnold, Tynesha Dozier, and Denita Dozier, along with her grandson Deshon Arnold, continue to weave the tapestry of her love across the cities of Chicago and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Eleven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren are blossoms of her garden, each a reflection of her grace and vitality. And let us not forget her special Godson, Edward Corey Wilson, a testament to her boundless capacity to love beyond the ties of blood.

Sister Arie Dozier's journey on this Earth may have come to a close, but her spirit soars high above us, guiding us with the light of her faith and the joy of her presence. She was a woman of God, a matriarch, and a friend. Her life was a sermon of love, her actions a prayer of compassion. As we bid farewell to this extraordinary woman, let us not dwell in the shadow of grief but rejoice in the sunshine of her legacy. Let us carry forward the torch of her spirit, illuminating our paths with the same faith-filled and spirited light that she shone upon us all.

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