Nancy Mildred Wilson McDowell

She died at St. Andrews Assisted Living Center in Concord, North Carolina, which was her place of residence for almost 10 years. Her children, Donna and Chris, and daughter-in-law Shirley were with her at the time of death. Nancy was a daughter of John Dave Wilson, Sr. and Mildred Dennison Wilson. She was born in Jackson, Tennessee on June 20, 1931, and lived 83 years of her life there. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, her husband of 49 years, Charles Alvis (Charlie) McDowell, her oldest son, Thomas Michael (Mike) McDowell, her brother John Dave (Slick) Wilson, Jr. and wife Martha, her sister Betty Ann Hearn and husband Bob, along with two children who died as infants.

Nancy is survived by a daughter, Donna McDowell Herndon (Philip), a son, Christopher Charles McDowell (Shirley) and a daughter-in-law, Teresa McDowell; grandchildren Brian McDowell (Carol), Jeff McDowell (Michelle), Chase McDowell (Katie), Russell Herndon, Nate Herndon (Samantha), Julie McDowell and Matthew McDowell; great-grandchildren Caleb McDowell, Avery McDowell, Ella McDowell, Piper McDowell, Devin Herndon, Colton Gresham, and Brittany Herndon; and a number of beloved nephews and nieces.

In her adult years, Nancy was an active member of West Jackson Baptist Church and raised her children there. In later years, she was a member of Englewood Baptist Church, then Calvary Baptist Church. She was a committed disciple of Jesus Christ, a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a homemaker with special skills in cooking and sewing, a wonderful Sunday School and Bible School teacher, a room mother, carpool driver, and Cub Scout leader. Her personality was a fascinating combination of dry wit, honest opinions, acute perception, kindness, understanding, and love. She was a gifted writer and storyteller. Her mark was left on the lives of everyone she encountered. Nancy is making heaven richer and abundantly more interesting. In her many places of influence on earth, she will be greatly missed and remembered with intriguing stories and a lot of smiles. Thank you for everything, Moby Dick!

The McDowell family gives special thanks to the wonderful staff of St. Andrews and to Nancy’s nephew, Dave Wilson and his late wife, Kay, for their ministry and loving care. Memorials should go to the local church of your choice or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105).

The family will receive friends at George A. Smith & Sons Funeral Home (2812 N. Highland Ave, Jackson TN 38305) on Saturday, September 9 from noon until 1 pm. A service to celebrate Nancy’s life will be held in the funeral home chapel at 1 pm with Rev. Doug Polk officiating. Burial will follow at Ridgecrest Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GeorgeASmithandSons.com for the McDowell family.