On Tuesday, March 2, 2021, Marilyn Faye Dawson— loving mother, grandmother, and friend— passed away at age 72.

Known affectionately by many as Joey or Gam, she was born on November 3, 1949 in Binghamton, NY and resided in Hampton, VA.

Marilyn was devout in her faith and loved the Lord dearly. She never missed a moment to share a word of scripture or uplift those around her, even when she was in need herself. She never stopped praising God even during life's most difficult trials, and always counted His blessings in her life. Our sweet Gam loved to spend her days at the beach, watching the sun rise or set and fellowshipping with her family and friends or worshipping the Lord. No matter how far she lived from the shoreline, she kept her home decorated with lighthouses and beachscapes to always remind her of her favorite place on this earth.

Marilyn has reunited in Heaven with her father, Gerald Gates, mother, Edna Beasley, brother, Edward Gates, and grandson, Nicholas Ryan Dawson Chagaris. Her memory and legacy lives on through her loved ones here on earth including her son, John Dawson IV (Vicki); her daughter, Wendy Dawson; her three grandchildren, Ariel Cook (David), Richie Barry, and Skylar Dawson; and her six sisters, Shirley O'Neil (Tom), Joan Pooley (Gene), Marjorie Burnap, Lois Wright, Joyce Arrington (Elliott), and Barbara Kilpatrick (Stanley). She's also watching over her great-granddaughter, Stella, due in May.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, March 20, 2021 in the R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home chapel and may be watched live by clicking here.

Flowers may be delivered to the funeral home.