If Anderson High School students were there, so was Marilyn Dorris.
The 91-year-old resident of Bethany Pointe Health Campus spent more than two decades as a substitute teacher in Anderson Community Schools and was a fixture at high school dances, basketball games and other events where she made every effort to capture students’ special moments.
“She’s our history,” said Kristal Graybiel, a 1995 Anderson High graduate. “She captured so many of my favorite moments in high school.”
Graybiel was one of dozens of Dorris’ former students who were on hand for a pep rally held in her honor Friday at Bethany Pointe.
“Not only would she capture those moments by going to every game, every pep session, every choir event, you name it,” Graybiel said, “but with her camera, taking pictures, giving us copies of pictures.”
Dorris kept some photos as well. Her daughter, Kristin Sturtz, said Dorris would proudly display her keepsakes in a photo album, sharing them with visitors at every opportunity.
Her children believe that a deep, selfless love for her students has allowed Dorris to make a significant impact.
“She is the most unselfish person you will ever meet,” Sturtz said. “Our house was always full of students, either being tutored, playing pool in the basement, or playing ping-pong.”
Dorris’ focus on others helped one man graduate high school. Jeff Perry said he struggled after his junior year and had basically given up on his studies. That’s when Dorris, who was subbing for the semester, stepped in.
“She called me at home,” he said. “She arranged for me to take my final tests in all of my classes. Instead of getting Fs in the class, I got Ds ... I got my diploma.”
After high school, Perry joined the Army and, after completing his degree, began a 20-year career as a case manager and employment consultant — a profession, he said, that has allowed him to help others as Dorris helped him.
“She was a true educator,” Perry said.
Dorris was also known as a fixture at many of the school’s athletic contests. Alan Landes, the assistant principal at Anderson High School, presented Dorris with a plaque honoring her as the “Greatest Fan of All Time.”
Dorris covered her mouth in shock.
Landes led a chant in true Anderson fashion, with everyone from Bethany Pointe staff members to alumni taking part, including Dorris.
“Mrs. Dorris, how do you feel?”
“We feel good, oh, we feel so good,” she cheered back to the delight of spectators.
Organizers handed a microphone to Dorris so she could respond to the outpouring of love.
“Your love is ever present,” she said.
This article appeared in The Herald Bulletin.