Dottie Billings Reed

Dottie Billings Reed, 55, of Morganton, NC died Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the Burke Palliative Care Center. Born in Lexington, NC on July 13, 1956, she was the daughter of the late James William Billings, Sr. and Ella Wolfe Hamer Billings. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and was a 4-H leader for many years. She was a graduate of William Woods University in Fulton, MO with a degree in equestrian science.Dottie was a founder of the Exceptional Equestrian Therapeutic Riding Program at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center. She started the program with 2 donated horses and built it into a state of the art stables with 22 horses and indoor riding arena. Over 200 riders participated in the program each week. She also pioneered a volunteer program to assist the therapy program. Dottie also organized fundraising, such as the Haunted Barn, Christmas with the Horses, trail rides at Choo Choo Justice?s ranch, and the HAY-U Summer Camp, to help the riding program. She received the Governor?s Award for Excellence in 2003.Dottie provided horses for people from other countries and riders from the Center to compete in the World Special Olympics in Raleigh. She helped organize the Equestrian Special Olympics for North Carolina and served on the advisory board.Dottie is survived by her husband of 25 years, Jim Reed of the home; children, Crosby Ella Reed, a student at the University of Kentucky, Alex Reed and wife, Jamie, of Pinehurst, NC, and Dr. Wendy Callahan and husband, Fred, of Morganton; grandchildren, Thad Craney, Mackenzie Reed, Abby Reed, Katie Callahan, and Collin Callahan; a brother, James W. Billings, Jr. and wife, Ellen, of Morganton; a sister, Mary Stuart Lackey and husband, Larry, of Hickory; nieces, Amanda Carswell and Linda Carter and husband, Chris; and two great-nieces, Alexa Carswell and Ashley Ballard.The graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 18, 2011 in Forest Hill Cemetery with Rev. Michael Bailey officiating. The family will gather at the farm following the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.