‘Little Mayor’ lifts spirits in historic Cherry neighborhood adjacent to Uptown

CHARLOTTE ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — From her rocking chair, it may be a quick wave or a little something extra.

“Some people pass by, if I know them, I throw them a kiss,” said Dot Dennis.

Either way, Dot makes sure every person passing by knows she sees them.

“They call me the little mayor. I told them, you don’t have to call me that. The Mayor gets paid, I’m just a person and my service is free,” said Dot.

Though she holds no official title, Dot is Cherry. From softball games at the park to luncheons at the church, she is rooted in the Charlotte neighborhood.

“Born, married, raised, baptized,” said Dot.

All her highs and her lows happened here.

“I kind of put it back where I won’t shed a team every time I talk, but I hurt,” said Dot.

Her son, Jermaine, was killed in the neighborhood when he was 21. She carries that pain with her every day.

“Something about Cherry, the people surround you, talk to you. You can talk to them, so it made it easier,” said Dot.

When she needed it, the neighborhood saw her.

“Cherry has been like a glue for each other. We got love, you know?” said Dot.

It’s her small corner of the world that becomes better and bigger, one hand at a time.

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