Willie Mae McDowell, age 98, died November 22, 2008.
Funeral services were held at noon Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at Mt. Ida Baptist Church in Greenville. The Rev. Michael Pouncey officiated and James Herbert Funeral Home directed the services. Interment followed at Magnolia Cemetery.
Willie Mae Porter Simpson McDowell was born to the late William and Emma Little Porter on April 7, 1910. She accepted Christ at the early age of seven in 1917 at the Mt. Ida Missionary Baptist Church and remained a faithful and dedicated member until her death.
Her membership affiliations included that of Sunday School teacher, youth director, president of the Willing Worker Society (member for ever 60 years) and Eastern Star Pilgrim Chapter #631 for over 60 years, for which she served as a Worthy Matron for 26 years.
At the age of 15, she began to reside as a caretaker for the Winter Family for which she raised three children (Edward, Sarah and Calvin) two of whom preceded her in death. During her life’s struggles, she successfully completed the eighth grade, and with hard work and determination, she later returned to night school and received her high school certificate of completion. Mrs. McDowell was a true all-around missionary worker.
Mrs. McDowell married Gullie Simpson and to this union seven children were born. Upon his death, she later married Blain McDowel. He also preceded her in death along with three of her children (Lester Hill, Donald and John Edward).
She leaves to cherish her memories, four children, Frances Senderson (Henry) of Montgomery, Fletcher Simpson (Ruth) of Decatur, Ga., Betty Griffin (Donald) of Greenville; Jerry Simpson (Gloria) Lithonia, Ga.,; one son she raised, Col. Calvin Winter of Tallahassee, Fla.; two brothers, John Henry Porter, Pittsburgh, Pa., Willie G. Lipkin (Fairfield, Ca.) and one sister, Lucille Mullin (Willie) of Greenville; 22 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, 26 great-great-grandchildren and two great-great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.