Dr. Vanessa Downer, 63, passed on Sunday, December 22, 2024 in Columbus, GA.

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at Greater Shady Grove Baptist Church located at 3000 12th Ave, Columbus, GA with Pastor Marcus Gibson, officiating. Burial to follow in Green Acres Cemetery.

The AKA Ceremony will be held from 1:00 - 3:00; Public viewing is 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, December 28, 2024.

Dr. Vanessa Edwards Downer departed this earthly life on December 22, 2024, when God called her home at the age of sixty-three. Dr. Downer was born on April 7, 1')61 in Tifton, GA. She was raised as a native of Albany, GA Dr. Downer graduated from Monroe High School in 1979 and was recognized as the Salutatorian of her class. She received her B.S. in Biology with honors from Albany State College, now known as Albany State University, in Albany, GA in 1983- While atteruling Albany State, Dr. Downer was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® through the Gamma Sigma Chapter in the Fall of 1980. She also served as President of that chapter from 1982-1983.

Dr. Downer then went on to receive her Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA in 1987. Soon thereafter, Dr. Vanessa Downer as an African American dentist achieved several firsts in her career. After graduating from Medical College of Georgia Dental School, Dr. Downer returned to her hometown of Albany, GA and became the first African American woman to practice dentistry with the Turner Job Corps there in Albany, GA. After getting married in 1988 to Dr. Tommy D. Downer and moving to Columbus, GA, Dr. Vanessa Downer became the first African American woman to practice dentistry with the Stewart-Webster Rural Health Clinic in Richland, GA where she worked for many years. Dr. Vanessa Downer eventually became the first and only male or female African American to practice dentistry at the Columbus Health Department. Soon thereafter, Dr. Vanessa Downer became the first and only African American to hold her current position as the West Central Georgia Health District Dental Director. In addition, Dr. Vanessa Downer received the ''Provider of the Year" Award presented by the Georgia Association for Primary Health Care in 1996, making her thefirst Dentist (male or female) to ever receive this award.

Dr. Downer is a Silver Star and Life Member of the Gamma Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, where she served as President until her passing. Under her leadership, the Chapter received the Best of the Best Chapter Award and the EAF Platinum Chapter Level award, along with numerous other chapter and individual awards. She also led the chapter in co-hosting the 2021 Cluster IV meeting held in Columbus, GA during her first year as President. In addition, she was instrumental in the celebration of the chapter's first Diamond and, at that time, living charter member. She was also instrumental in the chapter celebrating its 80th Anniversary and the recognition of the chapter's first Pearl members.

Prior to becoming President, she served as the Second Vice President (Fundraising Chair 2014-2018), and First Vice President (Program Chair 2019-2020). During her tenure as Program Chair, the chapter continued to be recognized with awards from the South Atlantic Region for both the chapter and individual chapter members.

Dr. Downer received the chapter's "Soror of the Year" award in 2016 and was again elected to receive the award this year in December of 2024. Dr. Downer has been a member of the Board of Directors of SISTERS, Incorporated, the philanthropic arm of Gamma Tau Omega Chapter, since 2017 and has served as the foundation's secretary.

In the community, Dr. Vanessa Downer was a member of several organizations, including the Board of Directors of the Tree of Life Foundation, the Community Advocacy Board for the Sumter County Head Start/Early Head Start Program, and Mt. Calvary Baptist Association She also served as Chair of the annual Community Health and Wellness Fair at Greater Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church for the past 10 years.

Dr. Vanessa Downer received a plethora of awards for her community involvement, including the Outstanding Service Award from Sumter CDC in 2018-2019, the Legacy of the League Award presented by the Urban League of the River Valley in 2022, and the Mt. Calvary Baptist Association Woman of the Year Award in 2024.

Dr. Vanessa Downer was a dedicated member of Greater Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church, where she was responsible for publicity, designing flyers, designing slides for morning worship services, website maintenance, and creating printed programs for various ministries and programs. She also sang in two of the choirs, served in the Deacons Wives Ministry, and was a former leader of the Youth Department and still worked with the Youth Department up until her passing. Dr. Vanessa was also serving as the leader of Greater Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church's Activity Center Committee which has the assignment to update, renovate, and decorate the Activity Center.

Dr. Vanessa Downer was an incredibly special woman with the ability to put anyone at ease with a smile or a word. She leaves behind her loving husband of 36 years, Dr. Tommy D. Downer; their daughter, Dr. Kelcie Downer White (Ryan), and their son, Kendall D. Downer.

Dr. Vanessa Downer also leaves behind to cherish her memory her mother, Janet M. Edwards; her older brother, Gregory W. Edwards, Sr. (Regina); her younger brother, John W. Edwards, III (Lola), and her younger sister, Sandra Edwards Inman (Donaell), Cassandra Davis (Carl), John B. Edwards (Alicia), Courtney Edwards Seragusa (Valerie). In addition Dr. Downer is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins, her mother-in-law, Mary Downer, and a multitude of loved ones and friends.

MAY GOD BLESS HER SOUL