Final Rites Held for Mrs. J.S. McDowell.
A large number of devoted relatives and friends assembled in the Chapel of the Barry funeral Home at three o'clock Sunday afternoon to pay final tribute to Mrs. Mattie Stanford McDowell, one of Okolona's oldest and most beloved lifelong residents, who died at noon Friday at the Community Hospital where she was taken following a heart attack at the home of her daughter, Mrs Charles McGehee, where she had lived for
several years. The rites were conducted by the Rev. Allen Baily, pastor of the Methodist Church.
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Mrs. McDowell, who had not been well for the past few years, had been suffering from a heart ailment since May of this year. She had seemed much improved for the past weeks and was in excellent spirits Friday morning. She apparently suffered a heart attack about eleven o'clock and died in less than an hour. She was 83.
Mrs. McDowell, a loving mother, was a friendly and cheerful person and loved people. She enjoyed visiting with friends and loved ones and having them with her in her home.
She was the daughter of the late Frank Stanford and the late Mrs. Mollie Stanford. More than 60 years ago she was married to Joe S. McDowell, who died in 1949.
Mrs. McDowell leaves three sons, Banks McDowell of Houston, Texas, Joe McDowell of Grand Rapids, Michigan, William L. McDowell of Blissfield, Michigan; four daughters, Mrs. A.W. Kellum of Monroe, Michigan, Mrs. McGehee, Mrs. Henry L. Brady and Mrs Tilden Dendy; three sisters, Mrs. H.B. Abernethy, of Louisville, Miss., Mrs. Joe Hubbard of Memphis and Mrs. B.F. Collins of Detroit, all of whom were here for the final rites. She also leaves 15 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.