Earnell McDowell, 96, was born December 10, 1918, in Talbot County. She was the daughter of the late Willie Henry and Eliza Jane (Owens) Copeland. After the death of her mother, she and her siblings were raised by their paternal grandparents, Job and Sally Owens. She was the fourth of fourteen children of a loving blended family.
Nell or Miss Nell, as she was affectionately known, was a quiet woman, small in stature but strong in character and having possessed a cup that ran over with love. She received her formal education in the Talbot County at the St. Paul School House which was located approximately ¼ miles, on Hwy 85S.
Influenced by a family of strong Christian preachers and teachers, she joined St. Paul C.M.E. Church, Flint Hill District, at an early age. At St. Paul, she served as a dedicated Stewardess, eventually matriculating to Stewardess Emeritus. She was a lifetime member of the Order of the Eastern Star #33 Manchester, Georgia.
Her favorite past times were tending to her farm animals, caring for her flowers, attending the Benview Neighborhood Christmas Club, taking care of her children, grand kids, nieces and nephews and talking on the telephones with her sisters and special friends: Carrie Mae Terry, Willie Mae Holmes, Johnnie Mae Gilbert, Lela Brown, Johnnie Mae Ellison and Thelma Harris.
On Saturday, May 2, 2015, God called her home to rest. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Welce McDowell.
She leaves to mourn her departure: Eight children; Hazel (Alphonso) Minor, Detroit MI, Louvonia (Ernest) Simpson, Jonesboro, GA, Allen (Lizzie) McDowell, Shiloh, GA, Liza Ann (Sammie) Waller, Manchester, GA, Earnest McDowell and Linda Walker, Shiloh, GA, Mary Nell (Clifford) Partridge, LaGrange, GA, and Marilyn ( Earl) Grambling, LA., ten grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren. Three sisters: Margaret Tensley, Fayetteville, N.C., Barbara Gay, Atlanta, GA, Annie Lois Daniel, Ft. Worth, TX; four sister-in-laws; Louise Richardson, Atlanta, GA, Mae Bell McDowell and Louvonia Copeland, Shiloh, GA, and Jan Jones, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
She also leaves numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
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