(Published January 7‚ 2002)

Dr. Dorothy "Dot" Thompson, Winthrop University English professor, poet, mentor and tireless advocate for ensuring that the African-American voice was heard on campus, died at home Friday. She was 57.

Thompson survived breast cancer 41/2 years ago. However, in late November she was diagnosed with cancer which had spread to her vital organs.

A Winthrop faculty member since 1985, Thompson was promoted to full professor in July.

"It's not possible to replace someone like Dot Thompson," said Debra Boyd, chairman of the Winthrop English depart-ment, who has known Thomp-son since they both attended graduate school at the Univer-sity of South Carolina 20 years ago. "She was an enormous influence on students and faculty. She was a woman of integrity and intelligence who can talk about the intricacies of American literature and poetry and also dance the mambo."

Last year was a breakout year in Thompson's literary life. She published her second book of original poems, "Priest in Aqua Boa," in April.

Thompson also edited an anthology of poems focusing on women's issues, "Out of the Rough," which was issued in conjunction with the 2001 Charlotte Novello Festival. That project grew out of a writing workshop Thompson conducted for unemployed women in Charlotte.

Her third book of poetry, "Hurrying the Spirit: Following Zora," inspired by Harlem Renaissance era novelist Zora Neale Hurston, is in publication.

At the time of her death, Thompson was working with colleague Jane Bowman Smith on an anthology titled, "The Elephant in the Classroom: Race and Writing," a book that looked at the issue of race in the educational process.

"Dr. Thompson would want me to go forward with the book," Smith said. "She was really committed."

Thompson's second-floor office door in Bancroft Hall is adorned with a black and white portrait of novelist Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple."

The photograph of the African-American author, hanging in a hallway adorned by the likes of William Faulkner, Robert Frost and other great American writers, was Thompson's quiet statement of the importance of including the African-American voice in the literary canon.

"She was such a model for the African-American student on this campus on what can be accomplished if a student valued language, worked hard and learned to express his or her voice," Smith said.

In addition to teaching composition, Thompson coordinated Winthrop's African-American studies program. She was also faculty adviser to the African-American student group, Taking Integrity Back, which focused on cultural, historical and current issues facing African-Americans.

"She was an inspiration to me," said state Rep. Bessie Moody-Lawrence, D-Rock Hill, an associate professor in the College of Education.

"Much of the progress that has been made in that area (African-American studies) is attributed to her," Moody-Lawrence said. "She will be sorely missed and hard to replace."

The daughter of late Lessie Whaley and Joseph Perry, Thompson was born in Spring-field.

Surviving are her husband, Johnnie C. Thompson II, two sons, Johnnie C. Thompson III of Columbia, and Jene Thompson of Rock Hill; her daughter, Danya Thompson Ochoa of Virginia Beach, Va.; two brothers, Todd Whaley and Norman Whaley, both of Columbia; two sisters, Edna Hall of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Andra Whaley of Columbia; and eight grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at Palmer Memorial Chapel, 1200 Fontaine Place, Columbia, from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Services will be 1 p.m. Wed-nesday at Walls Memorial AME Zion Church, 2722 Bancroft St., Charlotte.

Contact Andrew Skerritt at 329-4032 or askerritt@heraldonline.com.