Dixie Connelly Whetsell, 86, of Dorchester, widow of Donnell Whetsell, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Magnolias of Santee.

Funeral Services will be held 1:00 PM Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Salem United Methodist Church with Pastor Kevin Lott officiating.  Burial will follow in the Dorchester Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Dustin Lott, Andrew Cockcroft, Garrison Cockcroft, Forrest Cockcroft, John Whetsell, Jack Whetsell, Jacob Whetsell, Brad Mizzell, and Joseph Holmes.  The family will receive friends an hour before the service in the church.

Dixie was born on July 7, 1939, in Reevesville, a daughter of the late Julius Emory Connelly and Mary Louise Weathers Connelly.  She was a 1957 graduate of St. George High School. Dixie touched many lives during her employment at Harleyville Ridgeville High School and then later in her life at Dorchester Academy.  As the longest-standing member of Salem United Methodist Church, she held a special place in its community. Sewing, crocheting, gardening, and camping in the mountains with Donnell were some of her favorite pastimes.

She was predeceased by siblings; Fletcher Connelly, Jerome Connelly, Robert Connelly and Barbara Kizer.

Surviving are her sons, Ricky D. (Teresa) Whetsell, Summerville and John Thomas “JT” (Roberta) Whetsell, Dorchester; daughters, Cindy (Pat) Reeves, Dorchester and Patti (Michael) Lott, Reevesville; sister, Mary Ellen Wimberly; grandchildren, Nikki (Forrest) Cockcroft, Kevin Lott, DiDi (Brad) Mizzell, Michelle (Joseph) Holmes, Dustin (Gracie) Lott, John, Jack and Jacob Whetsell, Brandon Reeves and Phillip (Nikki) Reeves; great-grandchildren, Andrew and Garrison Cockcroft, Preston and Harper Mizzell, Kate, Graham, Hollis and Maddox Lott, Landen, Benjamin, Emerson and Canaan Holmes, Olin, Liam and Zadie Lott.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60601-7633.