She was a member of the last class of the Junior and Senior High School located at the Elgin Street campus. During this time, she formed a lifetime friendship with Thelma Robins Gould which lasted over seven decades. She and Thelma served as Junior Attendants to Miss Jack Yates while in Junior High School. Wanda later became Miss Jack Yates during her senior year of high school. Upon graduation, Wanda received a $4,000 E.E. Worthing Academic Scholarship that she used to attend Fisk University in Nashville, TN.

While at Fisk University, Wanda met and married Charles F. Booker. From that union, two daughters, Lillian Suzanne and Gina Cherise, were born.

Wanda graduated from Fisk University in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Drama. Upon graduation, Charles and Wanda relocated to Oklahoma City, OK, where she began a career in education with the Oklahoma City Public School System. She began as a Speech and Drama teacher at Douglass High School in Oklahoma City, OK. Wanda later transitioned to teaching Language Arts at Hoover Middle School in Oklahoma City, OK.

After raising her daughters, Wanda returned to school and earned a Master of Education degree in Instructional Media with a concentration in Library Information. Upon graduation, she changed career paths with the Oklahoma City Public School System and became a traveling elementary school Media Specialist. From 1969–1975, she served on the Oklahoma Commission on Education for the State of Oklahoma. In 1992, she retired from the Oklahoma City Public School System.

Wanda later returned to her hometown of Houston, TX, where she was employed with the Houston Independent School District.

After returning to Houston, TX, she was reunited with her high school sweetheart Ulysses S. Dotson, Sr. A cherished family friend, Betty Lois Stewart, was instrumental in reuniting Wanda and Ulysses. That reunion culminated in their marriage on March 26, 1994. They were married for 31 years.

Wanda started and ended her career in education serving as an elementary school librarian at Reynolds Elementary School in Houston, TX. She served 45 years as a dedicated educator in elementary and secondary public-school education. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa educational sorority and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

At an early age, Wanda Joyce accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was formerly affiliated with the Baptist and Roman Catholic denominations. She later became a member of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, TX.

Over the course of her lifetime, she had various interests which included being an avid reader, gardener, and she pursued numerous home improvement projects. Wanda also enjoyed sewing, playing bridge, and had a keen interest in current national and international political affairs.

Wanda was preceded in death by her father Talma Proctor, mother Ethel Mae Proctor Hubbard, stepfather Azzie Hubbard, maternal grandparents Ezra and Dora Cannon, and her brother Donald Cannon Proctor.

Left to cherish her precious memory is her devoted and loving husband of 31 years, Ulysses S. Dotson, Sr.; daughters Lillian S. (Susan) Booker and Gina C. Bostick (Garry); stepsons David P. Dotson (Sandy) and Ulysses S. Sydney Dotson, Jr. (Bridgette); grandchildren Anthony Bostick, Andrew Bostick, Danielle Dotson, Lauren Dotson, Sydney (“Little Sydney”) Dotson, Ulysses S. (“Tre”) Dotson, Alissa Dotson; brothers Sammie J. Hubbard, Patrick L. Hubbard (Chansonique); sister-in-law Freddie D. Proctor; sister-in-law Alfredia R. Proctor; first cousins Deborah C. Bell (Melvin), Tonja Cannon, Kevin Cannon; special cousin Betty L. Stewart; and great-grandchildren, goddaughter, nephews, and nieces.

Memorial Service:

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM

Windsor Village Church Family, 6011 W. Orem Dr., Houston, Texas 77085