Grace Dorsey

1845–1920. barnwell, south carolina

Grace Dorsey was a matriarch in the Black Mingo community and the wife of George Dorsey Sr. Together, they established their home in Nesmith, where they raised their family and built a lasting legacy in the region. She was a central figure in the Dorsey kinship network, known for her dedication to her family and community. Her death records from this period are limited, but she is remembered in family oral histories as a pillar of strength during the post-emancipation era.

  • Spouse: George Dorsey

    Mother: Elvira

    Siblings: Rosena, Hampton and Rhina

    Children: Rev Joseph, Hampton, Moses, Benjamin J, Duncan, Lottie Dorsey Swinton, George Dorsey Jr

  • Place of Death: Mingo, Williamsburg Co., S.C.

    Full Name: Grace Dorsey

    Sex: Female

    Color or Race: Negro

    Marital Status: Widowed

    Date of Birth: [Not Specified]

    Age: 110

    Occupation: [Not Specified]

    Birthplace: Barnwell, S.C.

    Father: [Not Specified]

    Mother's Maiden Name: Esther Green

    Date of Death: January 23, 1944

    Cause of Death: Flu

    Informant: Peter Dorsey

    Place of Burial or Removal: Millpond

    Date Filed: January 25, 1944

  • Her official record attributes her passing to an attack of influenza. In the early 20th century, this diagnosis in an elderly individual often indicated a severe respiratory infection that, when combined with advanced age, placed an overwhelming burden on the body’s compromised systems.

    Living to approximately 110 years of age after surviving the immense hardships of the antebellum era, the trauma of displacement, and the subsequent decades of building a foundational life in the Mingo community speaks to an incredibly resilient physical and spiritual constitution.

  • We are actively seeking documentation to complete these records. If you have access to official records, family documents, or photos that could assist in our research, please contact us at ourmahoganyheritage@gmail.com.