Sally Marie Sowers

Sally Marie Sowers, the loving daughter of Dr. Jerry (Sonny) Sowers, Jr., and Mrs. Wenona (Nonie) Godwin Sowers passed away peacefully on July 20, 2016, after a brief illness in Newton, North Carolina, at the age of 16. Sally was the granddaughter of Mrs. Martha Walser Sowers and the late Dr. Jerry Sowers, Sr., of Newton, and Mr. Kenny and Mrs. Louise Duggins Godwin of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Sally was born June 23, 2000, in Charleston, South Carolina, at the Medical University of South Carolina where her father was in dental school. She was a confirmed member of Concordia Lutheran Church. An excellent student, Sally excelled in both her academic and athletic endeavors. Sally was a 2014 graduate of Concordia Christian Day School where she was a member of the Junior Beta Club, served on student council and participated in basketball, tennis, and cheerleading. Sally was a rising junior at University Christian High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society and co-captain of the ladies tennis team. Sally participated in the Model United Nations, the NC Envirothon, and foreign language competitions, and various other activities.

Sally wove her way into the hearts of her family and friends becoming an integral part of the fabric of their lives. As a precocious young lady who was known for her quick wit and “silly” sense of humor, both sides of her large extended family as well as her many friends greatly loved Sally. She was known by many nicknames such as “Sally Sue” and “Sabina” by friends and “Sweet Sally” by her grandparents, Mema, Deda, Pops, and Lolli. She was also known as Sally Poo by her godparents, Jeffrey and Kelly Sowers. She earned the moniker of “the Princess and the Queen” within her family when at a young age she responded to her grandfather Jerry’s query as to which type of royalty she would prefer to be by pronouncing that she was going to be both a princess and a queen. Little did the family know that she would make good on her proclamation by being named Queen of the Heart Hop and serving as student body president her last year at Concordia. Inspired by the children’s book series, Flat Stanley, a cutout that Sally called “Flat Sally” was sent around the world with Sally receiving photographs of Flat Sally salmon fishing with her Uncle Freeman in the Pacific Northwest and of Flat Sally visiting with a two-star general and her Uncle Bubba, an army chaplain, on an army base in Iraq.

Sally cherished her time with her family and friends. Sally enjoyed sleepovers at her Mema’s with her cousins and her times at Camp Lolli-Pops. She enjoyed sleepovers and snapchatting silly pictures with her friends, Starbucks, Taylor Swift, Broadway musicals, and movies. One of Sally’s favorite activities was blowing bubbles with her precious French Bulldogs, Gigi and Rosie. Sally acquired a love of travel from her family. She enjoyed many travel opportunities with her extended Sowers family to Puerto Rico, Cabo San Lucas, Saint Thomas, and her grandparents 50th wedding anniversary trip to Hawaii. She enjoyed many other travels including People-to-People trips to Europe and Canada and a Disney Cruise with her Lolli, Aunt Elizabeth, and Mom. She enjoyed doing service work and was a regular volunteer at Concordia Christian Day School. Sally had a strong faith nurtured by her family and the faculties and staff of Concordia Christian Day School and UCHS. Her very best friend was her “annoying” little brother, Jay, of whom she was always very proud and loved very much.

Having scored the highest possible mark on the National College Board AP U.S. History Exam and after doing well on her first SAT test which she took as a sophomore in high school, Sally was excited about attending college and exploring her options for a future career. She visited North Carolina State University, her parents’ alma mater, and Davidson College. She looked forward to visiting other college campuses over the next year with her mother and father as she made decisions about her future.

The exuberance of her life and the pain caused by her tragic early passing and her unfulfilled potential will leave a lasting impression upon her many friends and family in Catawba County and Fayetteville. Sally will be sorely missed, but Sally will never be forgotten. She will be remembered for the brightness of her disposition and the brightness of her future. By her Friends, she will be remembered for smiles she received for the continuous smiles she gave, the silly antics that she played and the friend that she was. By her family, she will be remembered as a cousin, a niece, and a big sister. She will be remembered as the consummate flower girl for family weddings. She will be remembered for helping her Uncle Freeman propose to her Aunt Elizabeth. She will be remembered for her picture on the inside cover of a bible serving as guardian angel to a chaplain serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. She will be remembered as a caring, loving daughter and granddaughter who made her parents and grandparents proud and whose place in their hearts can never be filled. Her family’s one comfort in knowing she is in heaven with her faithful Savior and that they will reunite with her soon.

Sally was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Jerry William Sowers, Sr., her maternal great-grandmother and namesake, Ester Marie Godwin, her paternal great grandmother, Elsie Crouse Walser, and her great great grandmother, Heddie Godwin.

Sally is survived by her mother and father, Sonny and Nonie and brother, Jay of Newton. She is survived by her grandparents, Martha Sowers of Newton and Louise and Ken Godwin and her great grandfather, Derwood Godwin of Fayetteville. She is also survived by her Uncle Jeffrey and Aunt Kelly Sowers of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; her Aunt Susie Sowers Spragg, and Uncle Michael Spragg, and their children of Findlay, Ohio; her Uncle Michael and Aunt Martha Sowers, and their children of Hickory, North Carolina; her Uncle Kenneth and Aunt Sarah Godwin and their children of Fayetteville, North Carolina; her Aunt Elizabeth Godwin Denton and Uncle Freeman Denton and their child of Garner, North Carolina; and many other extended family

Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 24, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church in Conover, North Carolina with Pastor Mark Schudde and Pastor Ben Micheel officiating.

The Sowers family will receive following the services in the Concordia Christian Day School gymnasium.

Private interment will follow.

Sally loved her school and was excited about having her senior year in the new building. In lieu of flowers, you can honor Sally’s memory with contributions to the UCHS building fund, 602 7th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601.