Selma Louise “Dolly” McCalvin Pruett was born on the star lit evening of August 28th 1932 in rural Colquit County, Georgia, in the home of her parental Grandparents, Wil and Louvenia McCalvin. Born small, the tiny baby could fit in the palm of a hand and weighed just two and half pounds at two weeks old. She was called Lil’ Dolly by her family and the name remained throughout her life.
She was raised by her maternal Grandparents James and Mary Rae Kimbal after moving to Davenport, Florida when she was two years old. Dolly accepted Jesus as her Savior at the feet of her Grandmother on their front porch at the age of six. Her faithful walk with the Lord was the most important choice she made daily from that point forward.
Dolly graduated from Haines City High School, and while in school worked at Lawhorn’s Drug Store and worked as a lab assistant for Woods Soil Research after graduating.
Dolly met her husband, Pastor and Evangelist Albert Pruett in 1953. The couple married in 1954 and began traveling with Evangelist J. Harold Smith and E. J. Daniels in the same year. The couple also Pastored and traveled in revivals across the United States until Albert’s death in 1994. Dolly was well known for teaching children in Sunday School and in Children’s Crusades, as well as for her beautiful singing voice.
In 1997, Dolly relocated to be with her only child, Rebecca in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. From that time forward, she continued to attend church and serve in the community. Known by many as “The Dolly Momma” in her community, the City of Mt. Juliet declared a day in honor of her on August 28, 2022 on the occasion of her 90th birthday.
Dolly was also a writer, authoring poems and thoughts to live by. She was also a great cook, card maker, thread artist and seamstress. Her embroidery work was featured on Good Morning America in 2007 by host Robin Roberts.
She loved birds and flowers, and planting tomato bushes. As an avid family researcher, she loved to learn about her family history and the rich diverse blood that she was born from. She compiled her family history and penned thirty-seven handwritten histories to her relatives as a gift.
Dolly had a wonderful Irish wit, and was often an encourager of many with cards, phone calls and her one simple prayer to all she talked to, “Have a Jesus Filled Day!” as she ended her conversations. She loved scripture and committed chapters to memory, verses that in her last days she quoted continually, declaring the word over her life.
Dolly passed away peacefully at home on November 28 2023 at 1:22 pm. Her daughter Rebecca and her grand-dog Allie, stood watch along with the Great Cloud of Witnesses and the Hosts of Heaven as she was carried from death unto life.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her mother, Grace Kimbal McCalvin Monarch, her father, Leonard McCalvin, her stepfather, Robert Monarch, stepmother, Annice McCalvin and her beloved husband Pastor C. Albert Pruett.
Also proceeding her was twin sister Velma at birth, sisters Betty Rae Culpepper, Barbara Alice Ingram, Betty Jean Dennis and brother Junior McCalvin.
She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Graceson Pruett, sisters, Anne McCalvin Moates and Jacqueline Monarch, chosen Granddaughter, Jordan Olivia Pruitt, as well as many nephews, nieces, cousins, a host of friends and her beloved chosen family.
The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet with Pastor Aaron and Amanda Crab and Brother Danny Sellars officiating. The Visitation will be held prior to the Service from 11:00 am until the time of service at 1:00 pm. The Interment will be held at The Chattanooga Memorial Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Monday, December 4, 2023.
At the time of her death, Dolly was a member of Restoring Hope Church of Cross Plains, Tennessee.
If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, you may designate a gift in her name to Hope Kids of Restoring Hope Church. Dolly, forever the best Sunday School teacher, would love for the children of her home church to benefit from any kindness you would extend. Donations can be made to Hope Kids in Memoriam of Dolly Pruett, Restoring Hope Church PO Box 189. Cross Plains, TN 37049.
Arrangements by Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet, 2229 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122, 615-758-5459, obituary line 615-758-8818, www.sellarsfuneralservices.com
For more obituaries visit https://wilsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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