Dorothy Rae Hubbard Breland was born on November 22, 1938 in Bibb County, Alabama. She was the baby of three to parents Manley and Ellen Hubbard. The family moved to Harleston, Mississippi in 1940. Dot, as she was affectionately known, graduated from Moss Point High School in 1956 and went to work in Mobile, Al. She met the love of her life, Jack Breland, in Lucedale, MS and they were married on July 9, 1958. They lived in Hattiesburg while Jack finished at the University of Southern Mississippi and after a brief stint in Birmingham, AL they moved to Moss Point where Dot worked at a local bank and Jack worked at Ingalls Shipyard. They began Central Vending Company in 1961, a vending business, by selling candy bars from the trunk of their car. Dot managed the books while Jack ran the routes. They grew their small endeavor into a full-line vending business that serviced the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast. The pair were never far apart from one another and the business was a family affair. Dot retired from CVC but ever the business woman, continued working in the vending world until her second retirement in 2017.
Dot’s passions were traveling with Jack, serving on various committees at her church and spoiling her 3 granddaughters. She was quick to help others and provide good counsel, a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on. Dot could be counted on to keep the trickster spirit alive and you never knew when she was around the corner waiting to jump out and surprise you. She was always on the lookout for the next opportunity to plan a shenanigan and you could expect to hear laughter when she was around.
Dot is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Wyndol Breland, her parents James Manley and Ellen Naomi Hill Hubbard and her grandson, Jack Henry Breland.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Lee Ann B. and Dr John W. Starr, Jr., a son and daughter-in-law, Gregory J. & Rhonda M. Breland, 3 granddaughters, Casey Jo Breland (Joshua Allen) Green, Caroline Breland Starr & Georgia Grace Starr; a great-grandson, Jack Breland Green, a sister-in-law, Vencil S. Hubbard along with nieces, great nieces, nephews, great-nephews and cousins.
Visitation and service will be held at Griffin Cemetery in Moss Point on Friday, October 27, 2023 with visitation starting 10:45 a.m. and the service starting at 11:15 a.m. with Rev. Dennis Johnsey and Rev. Dennis Ray Smith officiating. Pallbearers will be Kenny Ballard, Josh Green, Roland Davis, Heath Ballard, John Blackwell, David Hubbard. Honorary pallbearers will be Brandon Ballard and Mitchell Hubbard.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in memory of Dot to Orphan Outreach, 2001 West Plano Parkway #3700, Plano, TX 75075 or www.orphanoutreach.org
Heritage Funeral Home, locally owned and operated in Escatawpa/Moss Point, MS is in charge of arrangements.
