Carlene Purvis Dowdy, 82, of Tifton went home to be with her Lord on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at her daughter's residence in Morven. Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Clayton Dowd and the Rev. Joe Crews officiating. Mrs. Dowdy will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Darrell Woods, Donald Woods, Bruce Hickey, Jerome Houle, Shane Fountain and Donnie Purvis will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Young at Heart Senior Group at Carpenter Road Church of God and the employees of Pit Stop Barbecue in Tifton.
Born September 23, 1941, in Berrien County, Mrs. Dowdy was the daughter of the late Eddie Purvis, Sr. and Jessie Lue Baker Purvis. She was also preceded in death by her husband and the love of her life, Willis Henry Dowdy, to whom she was married almost 65 years; two brothers, Eddie Purvis, Jr. and Cecil Auston Purvis; four sisters, Gracie Mae Baker, Lillie Evelyn Webb, Hazel Irene Gregory and infant sister, Lois Purvis. She loved her Lord and her family and her grandson, Jeremy, who was the light of her life. She loved to write Gospel songs, Gospel poems, read her Bible and work crossword puzzles and her card ministry. Before retiring, she worked at Northside Superette and Capt. D’s Restaurant. She was a member of Carpenter Road Church of God and the Young at Heart Senior Group.
Mrs. Dowdy is survived by one son, Ricky Dowdy of Tifton; one daughter and son-in-law, Kathy Ann and Freddy Kearse of Morven; one grandson, Jeremy Kearse of Morven; numerous nieces and nephews including Jennifer Webb Davis, a special niece and partner in Christ, who shared so much of her time with Mrs. Dowdy, dining and talking about life. She was like Mrs. Dowdy’s twin; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorial gifts may be made to a favorite charity.