Ms. Alma Lee (Becote) Dawson

     Ms. Alma Lee Becote Dawson, born November 23, 1941 to Sylvester Becote Sr. and Laura W. Becote. She departed her earthly life on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk, Va.

     Ms. Alma was born in Lumberton, NC. She was a devoted member of First Baptist Church until she took ill. She went to J.H. Haywood High School and graduated in 1960. After high school she attended Fayetteville State University and graduated in 1946.

     Ms. Alma worked as a cafeteria worker and dietary aide starting at Lumberton High School cafeteria to the Heritage Retirement Cen ter, to Glen Flora Nursing Home. She retired from employment in 2014. In 2016, she suffered a stroke and became a nursing home resident in N.C. until 2022, when she moved to Newport News, Va to be cared for by her eldest daughter, Veronica.

     Ms. Alma is preceded in death by her husband, Levi Dawson, her daughter, Anna M. Becote, parents, Sylvester and Laura Becote, her common law husband, Johnny Lee Stephens, her sisters, Sadie Savannah, and Annie Pearl Jiles, her brother, Sylvester Becote Jr., and two sons-in-love, Johnnie Hicks Jr., and Teco Devon McKinnon.

    Alma is survived by her daughters, Veronica Becote Hicks of New port News, Va; and Michelle Dawson Mckinnon of Dumfries, Va; six grandchildren, Ashley Becote, Sheea Dawson Anderson and Miguel Anderson all of Stafford, Va; Sylvester Hicks of Newport News, Va; Karen Becote and Lea Curet of Raleigh, NC; Teco and Krystle Mckinnon of Woodbridge, Va; fourteen grandchildren, Ashton Brown, Olivia Brown, Gabriel Dawson, Michael Dawson, Zamaya Hicks, K’vion Hartley, Kyla Hartley and Karter Hartley, Kalani Mosley, Kassidy Bethune, Kaira, Kylah, Karon Jr., and Kalea Becote, sister-in-law, Cathy Becote of Lumberton, NC; a loving niece, Catherine Savannah of Fairmont, NC; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and other family and friends.

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