December 23, 1935 – June 27, 2025

Doris Gray (Hankins) Perkins, born on December 23, 1935, in Vernon, Alabama, went to meet her Lord and Savior on June 27, 2025.

Surrounded by family and friends, she passed away after a short illness in Dallas, her home for the last 11 years.

She attended Lamar County schools (skipping the second grade) and attended Auburn University. Doris married Billy Joe Perkins on February 2, 1956, in Columbus, Mississippi.

In 1959, Doris, Billy Joe, and new son, Tim, moved to Uvalde to join relatives and farm vegetables and cotton in the ‘Winter Garden.’

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Isaac and Romie Hankins, her husband Billy Joe, her son, Jeffrey Benton Perkins, and her siblings Lamar, Lynn, Opal (Carnes) and Ouida (Fowler).

She is survived by her son, Tim Perkins (Jennifer Mairs), Abigail Perkins (Nick) Backlund, Jeffrey (Callee Roscoe) Perkins, and William (Marian Turner) Perkins; her great-grandson BeauxBeaux Backlund and many nephews and nieces and their progeny, including Ed (Sharron) Carnes of Uvalde, Randy Carnes of Kyle and JoAnne Eaker of San Antonio.

Doris loved reading, researching and ‘investigating’ the issues of the day, instilling that passion in her sons and the many students at Southwest Texas Junior College and Uvalde High School, where she served in their libraries for many years.

She was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church. She had an intelligent wit and loved to laugh. Her quiet and intentional generosity mirrored that described in Matthew 6:3-4.

She was also fierce advocate for her family and friends. One of the many beneficiaries of this advocacy commented, “Doris was a force of nature and having her on your team was worth 1000 of the enemy”.

Widowed at 49, she quickly became a self-taught investor and handy(wo)man as she filled her days with reading, working in libraries and traveling with friends to Alaska, Mexico and other cities around the U.S.

She also was present at many school events: to watch her grandchildren’s’ Lamplighter ‘Hootenannies,’ Abby’s art shows, cheerleading and Godspell performances, also Jeff and Will’s lacrosse and football games at St. Marks, Dartmouth, the Vail Lacrosse Shoot-Out, and SMU.

She also closely followed her grandniece Jenny Carnes’ college basketball career. In 2004, Doris left Uvalde to move closer to her grandchildren and built another home in Canton.

She made many friends in Canton, where she attended Lakeside Baptist Church. She held court with neighborhood children on Etheridge Circle who would watch for her in her front yard so they could obtain a snack and the wisdom of the day from ‘Miss Doris.’

Failing health necessitated a move to the Dallas area, where she lived until her passing. She also led the current affairs weekly roundtable at the Lakes of Josey Ranch in Carrollton. No topic was off limits during her sessions.

The family wishes to acknowledge and thank her devoted friend and caregiver, Tonya Smith as well as the residents and staff of the Vitality Preston Hollow for their friendship and kindness to Doris for the past 2 years.

A family graveside service is pending in Uvalde. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Texans on Mission, formerly Texas Baptist Men.