A Tennessee man who left $5 million to his 8-year-old border collie Lulu when he died was a successful businessman who was known for having a controversial statue of Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest on one of his properties. 

Bill Dorris, 83, died late last year in Nashville but made headlines last week after it emerged he had left behind $5 million to his dog Lulu. 

The late businessman, who was unmarried and ran a bathtub company for the disabled, had left his border collie in the care of his 88-year-old friend Martha Burton. 

His will specified that his $5 million fortune should be put into a trust for Lulu's care. 

Bill Dorris, who left $5 million to his 8-year-old border collie Lulu when he died, was a successful businessman who was known for having a controversial statue of Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest (above) on one of his properties. Photo courtesy of ABC15

Bill Dorris, who left $5 million to his 8-year-old border collie Lulu when he died, was a successful businessman who was known for having a controversial statue of Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest (above) on one of his properties. Photo courtesy of ABC15

Bill Dorris, 83, died late last year in Nashville but made headlines last week after it emerged he had left behind $5 million to his dog Lulu

Bill Dorris, 83, died late last year in Nashville but made headlines last week after it emerged he had left behind $5 million to his dog Lulu 

'I don't really know what to think about it to tell you the truth. He just really loved the dog,' Burton told local news outlet WRCB. 

Burton admitted that she doesn't know if she could ever spend $5 million on Lulu - even with a lifetime supply of treats and toys. 

'I'd like to try,' Burton said, adding 'she's a good girl'.  

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Dorris' will specified that Burton should be reimbursed for monthly expenses to take care of Lulu. 

All purchases made for the dog will need to be approved by a conservator. 

It isn't clear what will happen when Lulu dies. 

Burton had already been taking regular care of Lulu when Dorris was still alive when he was away traveling. 

His will specified that his $5 million fortune should be put into a trust for Lulu's care. All purchases made for the dog will need to be approved by a conservator

His will specified that his $5 million fortune should be put into a trust for Lulu's care. All purchases made for the dog will need to be approved by a conservator

The late businessman, who was unmarried and ran a bathtub company for the disabled, had left his border collie in the care of his 88-year-old friend Martha Burton

The late businessman, who was unmarried and ran a bathtub company for the disabled, had left his border collie in the care of his 88-year-old friend Martha Burton 

Prior to his death, Dorris was known in the local area for having owned land along Interstate 65 where a controversial statue of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest has been erected for more than two decades.

Forrest, who was also an early Ku Klux Klan leader and a longtime slave trader, was blamed for the Fort Pillow Massacre in which some 300 African-American Union solders were slaughtered after they surrendered. 

The statue on Dorris land is visible from the interstate.

It has been vandalized several times of the years, including in 2017 when pink paint was thrown across it. 

Dorris never cleaned the paint off.  

The fate of the statue and the rest of his estate will likely be determined in probate court.  

Dorris was known in the local area for having owned land along Interstate 65 where a controversial statue of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest (above) has been erected for more than two decades

Dorris was known in the local area for having owned land along Interstate 65 where a controversial statue of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest (above) has been erected for more than two decades 

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