Dottie Rambo, A Southern Gospel Lady Goes Home

It was just after I got into the studio this morning. I had updated the weather and was into the first set of Southern Gospel songs. I was checking my email to find out what was new in the world of Southern Gospel music so that I could pass it along.

When I opened up my first email account I noticed that several of the emails contained the name Dottie Rambo. One was from Libbi Stufle of the Perrys, another from The SingingNews, another from Paul Heil. I opened Libby's email and was stunned. This is her email...

Wow, what a day this has been! When I went to bed this morning at 5:34pm after sitting up with Tracy while driving the bus to get home in time for church this morning,
I had no idea that I would wake up to the sounds of my phone beeping that I had a text message with the message.....Dottie was killed in a bus wreck this morning.
I had to look at my phone twice to make sure I was reading it right. I immediately woke Tracy up and he said please make sure this is right, I just can't believe it. Well,
it was right and true.

Here's the police report from the Missouri State Police:
At 2:19 a.m.,Missouri State Troopers responded to the accident that took place on I-44, two miles east of Mt. Vernon, Missouri. According to the Troopers' report, the 1997 Prevost Dottie was traveling aboard ran off the roadway, struck the guard rail and an embankment. Dottie was pronounced dead at the scene by Lawrence County (Mo.) Coroner Don Lakin at 4:20 a.m.Aboard the bus were Dottie's product manager Christopher Barnes, Larry & Judy Ferguson, their children Pierce and Christian, and driver Ronnie Meadows.

From reports Larry Ferguson (Dottie's Manager) is in critical condition along with Ronnie Meadows (the driver) and Chris Barnes.

I grew up in the era when the Rambos were as we always said it "Big Time!" I remember the first time I heard her sing, I was blown away because I had never
heard a woman sing that low and pretty. Her voice was so full and big. Not only could she sing and write, she was a very beautiful LADY. She dressed and
acted like a lady. I just thought she was the most elegant lady I had ever seen and even years later, she still held that elegance and charm.

When the Perrys started singing in 1970 we sang just about every Rambo's song we could learn. I have several favorites but these are the ones that I always
even today still find myself listening to when I listen to the Rambos:
Holy Hills of Heaven (my all time favorite Rambo's song)
Build My Mansion
Mama's Teaching Angels How To Sing
Tears Will Never Stain The Streets of That City
I Just Came To Talk With You Lord
Too Much To Gain To Lose
New Shoes
Sheltered In The Arms of God
If That Isn't Love
He Looked Beyond My Faults And Saw My Need
We Shall Behold Him
March Around The Throne

Gosh, I could just go on forever!! I don't think the lady ever wrote a bad song. Dottie just had a way of painting a picture with words. You can just close your
eyes and you are there, standing in the middle of the song. You never had to second guess what the song was trying to say.

For the past two years I have called Dottie on Mother's Day and we would talk about 2 hours at a time. We would talk a little, cry a little, but mostly we would
do more laughing than anything. She was one of the funniest ladies I have ever met. The last couple of times we worked with her, we would go back and
forth on stage about Men and how hard they are to live with sometimes. She would just laugh that little laugh she had and always got the last word in!
She was so witty. Today, I miss talking to my friend, but I just know that she is in a far, far better place than this place. She has met face to face the one she tried to write about all of her life, She's sheltered in the Arms of God alright, SHE IS THERE!!!!! As much as one side of my heart is breaking right now, the other side is turning flips because she's HOME with her Lord and Master!!

Dottie, I will forever miss your presence in the world, but I know it won't be long, until we'll ALL BE HOME!!
Until then....
Happy Mother's Day, I love you LADY!
Libbi

I think that Libbi sums it up so well. Dottie Rambo was one of a kind and willbe missed. Artists and industry friends are leaving remembrances and messages on a special Dottie Rambo tribute page. Fans may visit and read the comments at www.southerngospelreporter.com/dottietribute

A memorial website has been authorized by Rambo Evangelistic Association.. The site, www.dottierambomusic.com is available for friends to write their own personal Dottie Rambo stories,.. and include notes to her loved ones.