Ollie McDowell

Obituary For Ollie McDowell

On Monday, December 29,2025, Mrs. Ollie Cornelia Johnson McDowell transitioned from this life of labor to her reward with her heavenly Savior! She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Richard Johnson and Mrs. Ollie Rita Johnson and her husband, Mr. Herman M. McDowell Sr.

Born in Jefferson, Georgia and raised in Athens, Georgia, Ollie’s formative years were spent with her parents, grandparents and other relatives, and all worked to have better lives, despite the horrors of segregation and racism. She was an exceptional student, and she realized at an early age that education was the ultimate form of empowerment. After high school, she made the journey to Greensboro, NC to attend Bennett College
for Women and her zeal for education and civil rights continued to flourish.

While at Bennett, she majored in English and excelled in drama. However, she also did her part to confront discriminatory divides in Greensboro and beyond. She often told stories of marching for justice in downtown Greensboro---while always looking like a proper Bennett Belle, of course. In fact, she is featured in Linda Beatrice Brown’s 2013 book, Gender, Bennett College, and the Civil Rights Movement in Greensboro, NC.

After her graduation and marriage, the McDowell family moved to Mount Holly, New Jersey. Ultimately, however, they came back down south and settled in Greensboro.
Ollie quickly became involved in another meaningful movement---the education of young children. For over 25 years, she served and taught children. She taught at the
historic Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, NC, as well as other schools in Alamance and Guilford counties. During her tenure of teaching at the elementary and jr. high school levels, she went on to complete her master’s degree in education from NC A&T University. After its completion, she transitioned from secondary education to the college level and began teaching and advising at Winston Salem State University. Along with teaching her beloved subjects, English and Composition, she also became the Director of the Writing and Communication Center. Her students truly were a highlight in her life.

As an honorary NC A&T Aggie, Ollie also found time to travel with her husband to A&T football games all over the eastern seaboard. Together, they shared meaningful times with friends and family from various auxiliary clubs, including the Greensboro Sportsman’s Club.

Ollie accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and continued her commitment to Christ when she joined her beloved Union Memorial UMC, Greensboro. Additionally, when she was able, she attended Laughlin Memorial, UMC , where she was always treated like family. It was during this time she was featured in yet another book, Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats.

Her true source of pride and joy, however, was her beloved family. She was the matriarch of her clan, and she wore her title well. She was extremely proud of her four children, daughter- in- law and son- in- law and when her three grandsons, granddaughter- in- love and three great-granddaughters came along, truly her “Cup of Joy” runneth over. She lived to shower everyone with gifts and wisdom and even when she became too ill to personally shop for the family, she made sure everyone received gift cards to their favorite places.

Ollie’s quest for knowledge and love for people will live on with her family and friends. Left to carry on her legacy are her daughters, Tamara Ingram (Rodvegas), Ingrid
McDowell and her sons, Herman McDowell Jr. (Lorie) and Reggie McDowell. She also leaves her beloved grandsons, Marc Ingram Jr. (Charity), Kennan McDowell and J. Cameron Ingram, all of Greensboro. Additionally, she leaves her cherished great- granddaughters, Katelyn, Carmen and Charlie, a step-brother, Richard Johnson Jr. , three sister-in-laws , two brother- in-laws, a special cousin, Shani Addae, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

A Wake will be held 5 - 7 p.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026, in the Cassie Coote-Brown Memorial Chapel at Perry J. Brown Funeral Home, 909 East Market Street Greensboro, North Carolina.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at St. Matthews United Methodist Church, 600 East Florida Street, Greensboro, North Carolina 27406. Visitation will be held prior at 1pm.

Burial will follow at Collins Grove United Methodist Church, 5210 Collins Grove Church Road Greensboro, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bennett College-Centennial General Operating Fund; Attn: Institutional Advancement; 900 E. Washington Street-
Greensboro, NC 27401 or Saint Matthews United Methodist Church; 600 E. Florida
Street; Greensboro NC, 27406.