McDowell, Mrs. Betty, A resident of Dayton Ohio Formerly of Montgomery, AL departed this life on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 1:00PM from Kindle Cemetery, Rev. Homer Brown, officiating. Mrs. Mcdowell will lie in state on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 from 2-6PM from Phillips-Riley Funeral Home.
Betty McDowell was born July 11, 1947 in Lowndes County, Alabama to the late Mattie Holley and Rev. Neil Gilchrist. She was also raised by her stepfather, the late Joe Caldwell-Senderson. She departed her earthly home on Saturday, April 17, 2021. For 73 years, she was a loving daughter, sister, a devoted mother, and grandmother. Betty confessed Christ at an early age and was baptized into the Baptist Faith at Stonetank Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Montgomery, Alabama. In the year of 1976, Betty moved to Dayton, Ohio, where she made a new start in life for herself and her children. After moving to Dayton, she attended Mt. Zion Church of Christ. Betty was well loved and respected by many. She had affection for all children from her own children to grands, great-grands, and neighborhood kids. She treated them like her own and they called her “Mother”. Most importantly, she had a strong relationship with God. Others preceding her in death were: one daughter, Brenda Lee McDowell, one sister, Patricia Ann Holley, one brother; Robert James Holley, three grandsons; Jerron McDowell, Eric and Derrick Landers: one great grandson, Zy’Air Sherrer, aunts, uncles, cousins, and several in-laws. Betty leaves to cherish her memories seven devoted children: Shirley McDowell-Hazim, Jeanette McDowell, Willie (Marlett) McDowell, Dayton, Oh., Jerome (Kimberly) McDowell, Atlanta, Ga., Stan (Lisa) McDowell, Tracy McDowell, Dayton, Oh., and Felicia McDowell, Atlanta, Ga., two brothers: Joe (Alice) Holley, Montgomery, Al., and Neil (Carol) Gilchrist, Columbus, Ga., four sisters: Mildred (Clyde) Potts, Debra Curry, Regina (Stephen) White, and Robin Owens, Montgomery, Al., step-mother: Mrs. Sadie G. Gillis, Montgomery, Al., three sisters-in-law: Deloris Smith, Cora Bonner, and Pamela McDowell, Montgomery, Al., two brothers-in-law, John McDowell, and Johnny Smith, Montgomery, Al., three aunts, Willie Mae Reese, Montgomery, Al., Daisy (Mathew) Williams, Detroit, Mi., and Annie Bell Pettiway, Phenix City, Al., 28 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, two special friends: Virginia H Belser and Ryan Wallerius, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
