Dorsey Mayo

Dorsey Mayo graduated from E. C. Glass High School and earned a B. A. degree (major in religion, along with a plethora of math courses) from Mount Holyoke College.  She married John Mayo, also of Lynchburg, (deceased 2003).  They lived for one year in Norfolk, Virginia, two years in California, and 11 years in the suburbs of Boston, before returning to Lynchburg in 1971. 

In Norfolk, Dorsey taught high school math and in California switched from teaching to working as a mathematician at Hughes Aircraft Company.  With the birth of son John, and later two daughters, Katherine Earls and Dana Houtman (deceased 2020), Dorsey gave full time to her roles as a mother and household manager.  Son John, and his wife Rozita, live in Arlington, VA; Katherine resides in Mechanicsville, VA.  Dorsey has six grandchildren.

When Dorsey and John moved to Lynchburg, they built and operated an indoor tennis facility on Wiggington Road.  Immediately successful, they eventually sold the business in 1984 and Dorsey enrolled at Lynchburg College (today University of Lynchburg) where she earned a master’s degree in counseling.  Two years later, she was one of five women who founded Lynchburg’s still operating New Vistas School, a nonprofit day school for children and adolescents experiencing learning and attention difficulties. 

During New Vistas School’s early years of operation Dorsey taught math and provided counseling services.  In 1990, she satisfied the requirements to be certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor.  One year later she worked as a counselor for a non-profit counseling agency before establishing a private practice.  She retired in 2007.

A member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Dorsey is an active volunteer with a passion for providing religious educational experiences to all congregational age groups.  She has also been a strong supporter of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra.  With the remainder of her time, Dorsey plays duplicate bridge and enjoys dabbling in watercolor painting and drawing and painting mandalas, as well as reading.