Dorothy Inez Turcan Waldrep

Dorothy Inez Turcan Waldrep departed on her sentimental journey above the “blue, blue, blue” skies on June 13, 2022, at 97 years young. Born to Romain James Turcan and Blanche Baker Turcan in New Orleans, LA in 1925, Dot’s life took her around the world, touching many lives with her gentle, loving, southern charm. Dot knew no strangers, immediately welcoming you with “hello, Sugar”. Dot grew up way down yonder in New Orleans before attending Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) during World War II. It was during her first days at SLI that she caught the eye of a long, tall Texan, Alfred C (AC) Waldrep, Jr who was the love of her life for 56 years before his passing in 2002. During that love affair, Dot served elegantly and tirelessly as an “army wife”, raising her four children while managing twenty household moves. Dot and AC eventually settled in Charleston, SC in 1968 when AC was selected to help create the College of Dental Medicine at MUSC.

Dot was a homemaker in the truest sense, seamlessly providing a warm, safe and welcoming home, while indefatigably meeting her family’s housing, nutritional, transportation, and eccentric needs before blocking out the afternoon, turning on the television, and making time for ‘her stories’ of daytime soap operas. Each evening, she would sit with AC, sharing a highball and salted peanuts while enjoying the “oohs and ahhs”  of the beautiful sunset over Charleston harbor. At night, Dot was never too tired to give the best back-scratches a kid ever had. When often asked the secret of a happy life and loving marriage, Dot would simply say, “faith, love, and make good memories.”

Remembering Dot with more than a bushel and a peck of love are her oldest son Alfred C Waldrep III of Charleston; her daughter Deborah Anne Waldrep Ethredge with her husband Don Ethredge and daughters Landrie Heart Ethredge, Alexa Anne Ethredge Aboudaram with her husband Eli Aboudaram, Elise Jency Ethredge,  and Tavia Shalom Ethredge, all of Charleston; son Douglas Alan Waldrep MD, with his wife Heda Perez Waldrep, and their children Megan Elizabeth Waldrep Dabney, with her husband Christopher Dabney, and Caraline Rose Waldrep Martin with her husband Ryan Martin and sons Mac Douglas Martin and Archie Anthony Martin, all of Wilmington, NC; and son Donald James Waldrep, DMD, MD with his wife Lisa Janks Waldrep, and daughter Sophia Grace Waldrep and son Carson James Waldrep, all of California.

In lieu of flowers, please wear something shockingly red, have some chocolate silver bell kisses, pour a Merlot over ice, and toast our beautiful darlin’, Dot. 

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to James Island, 347 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, 843-614-8494.