THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 5, 1995 TAG: 9507010117
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
There's a little discrepancy about decorative artist Dottie Martz's birthday. She knows she was born on June 6. But according to the U.S. government, it was May 6.
When she was born, the doctor wrote May instead of June on her birth certificate. Then he scratched out May and put in June. But when Martz got older and went to get a passport, the government official insisted that she had to stick with the original date. ``She wouldn't give me my passport until I agreed my birthday was in May,'' Martz said and laughed. ``So it's May in all my official government stuff.''
Martz, who moved to Virginia Beach last year, does decorative painting - walls, furniture and such. She and her daughter, also an artist, run their business, Have Brush Will Travel, out of their booth at the Crafters Mall on Baxter Road.
Full name: Dorothy Jewel Skinner Martz.
Hometown: Born in Lucedale, Miss., lived in San Diego, Calif., for more than 20 years.
What brought you to the Beach? Wanted to be nearer my daughter and her family.
Birthdate: Official birthday is May 6, but actual birthday is June 6.
Occupation: Decorative artist.
Nickname: Dottie.
Marital status: Widow.
Children: Son, Chuck in California, and daughter, Carol in Virginia Beach, and four grandchildren.
What is your idea of a perfect day off? Painting all day long (12 hours or more).
Last smart thing you did: Moved to Virginia Beach.
Last dumb thing you did: Took a three-week vacation. That's too long to be gone.
Favorite meal: Anything seafood, preferably shrimp and crab.
Favorite movies: Mysteries and classic movies.
Favorite song: ``I Fall to Pieces'' by Patsy Cline.
Last book read: ``Lasher'' by Ann Rice.
Secret vice: Buttered popcorn.
Hobbies: Painting, naturally, plus genealogy, cross stitch, gardening and decorating.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Would love to be really thin and tall.
Favorite restaurant: Le Chambord.
Your favorite night on the town: Don't go out at night.
Favorite TV shows: Old movies, mysteries.
Favorite sport: None.
Last vacation: Painting convention in San Diego (one week), visiting my son and his family (one week) and Jackson Hole, Wyo., (one week).
Pets: Smokey, my lavender Tonkanese cat.
Worst job: Telephone solicitor for a magazine years ago.
Of what achievements are you most proud? My children, my house and my independence.
What would you like as your epitaph? She loved and lived to paint. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
by CNB