Dorothy Johnson Sandlin, 90, of Wilmington, passed away on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center in Wilmington, North Carolina.
She was born to the late, Hugh Stewart Johnson, Sr. and Ethel Southerland on June 8, 1927 in Rose Hill, North Carolina.
After graduating from Rose Hill High School, Dorothy married her husband Jim D. Sandlin Jr. of Beulaville, North Carolina. Following his death in 1955 she attended East Carolina College, now East Carolina University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music with a minor in voice. She attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. She also was a piano student of Dr. Clarence Adler of New York City while preparing for her piano concert at Carnegie Hall April 8, 1961. Dorothy lived for many years in the Cranbury, New Jersey area where she taught music and piano, then moved to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1975.

Left to remember her are her son, James "Jim" D. Sandlin III (Luanne) of Raleigh, NC; her grandchildren, Michael James Sandlin (Karin) of Raleigh, NC, and Ryan Douglas Sandlin (Julianna) of Apex, NC; her great-grandchildren, Lacey, Sarah, Holly, and Taylor; her nieces, Tanya J. Shelton, Sarah J. Brown, and Helen Johnson.
In addition to her parents and husband, Dorothy was also preceded in death by her brother, Hugh Stewart Johnson, Jr.; sister-in-law, Jackie Furr Johnson; nephew, Vann S. Johnson; and niece, Evelyn J. DeVane.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 188 Rose Hill, NC 28458 or Lower Caper Fear Hospice 1414 Physicians Dr. Wilmington, NC 28401.
A memorial service will be held in Dorothy's honor at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church 111 East Main St. in Rose Hill with Rev. Brian Doles officiating. A reception will follow in the parish hall.