BLACKSHEAR — Mildred Brewton Walker Dowling went to heaven Sunday morning, August 6, 2023, surrounded by her loving family after celebrating 100 happy birthdays.
She was born Mildred Louise Brewton on December 4, 1922, to her parents, Grover Cleveland Brewton and Ruth Jones Brewton, and was a lifelong resident of Pierce County where she graduated from Patterson High School in 1940.
Looking back on her life, Mrs. Dowling related her memory of a favorite relative, her Aunt Blanche Jones, who was “so patient and taught me to crochet and make many things such as cottage cheese. Aunt Blanche was very active in 4-H and Georgia Extension work.”
As a young student, Mrs. Dowling was very active in the 4-H Club and then as an adult she enjoyed helping young family members with their 4-H projects which they remember fondly now as adults. As a high school graduate, she wanted to learn hairstyling skills but as marriage and child rearing responsibilities came, she fulfilled that early desire by cutting hair and giving permanent waves for family members, friends, and neighbors.
For her entire life Mrs. Dowling loved and was a member of Baptist churches beginning with Alabaha Free Will Baptist Church, then Pine Grove Baptist, and then for many years, Blackshear First Baptist Church where she was very active in the Hands to Work program, enjoying her friends and making fiber arts, especially crochet and knit items for various ministries. She was a member of the Alert Sunday school class at First Baptist before joining the Alathean Sunday School Class. She also enjoyed the FBC Joy Group. She loved reading her Bible and had a good memory of her Bible studies.
Mrs. Dowling was well known in the community for her cooking and flower growing skills. She entered and won cooking contests and was often telephoned by friends for her recipes and for specific ideas for homemaking. She and her sister-in-law, the late Mrs. D. Hugh Walker (Dell), managed a business of decorating special occasion cakes and catering events for many years.
She loved community work in addition to her devotion to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She created many fiber art toys and wearables for grandchildren, many of which are still treasured in the family. Mrs. Dowling was active in the Meals on Wheels program through which she and her sister-in-law, the late Mrs. Irene Dixon, loved their brief visits with homebound citizens. She also enjoyed serving in the community Food Pantry. In her middle years she was very active in the Pierce County Extension Homemakers Clubs.
Mrs. Dowling was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Kathryn Brewton Leslie and Mary Brewton Stodghill; her first husband, James Barney Walker; and her second husband, Morris E. Dowling, Sr. She was also preceded in death by her grandson, Russel Walker Frier.
During the last eight years of her life, she resided with her son and daughter-in-law, James and Sue Ann (Powers) Walker, where she received their daily love and devotion. Among their many provisions, they showered her with blooming plants and a bird feeder at her window where she and her caregiver enjoyed and named their regular feathered visitors. She had the great benefit of the love and care of Holly Frances and most recently the nurses at Hospice Satilla.
Survivors include her sons, James Fleming (Sue Ann) Walker of Blackshear, and their children James Fleming (Teri) Walker and Elan (Casey) Daughtry; son Paul Brewton (Shan) Walker of Waycross and their children, Ashlyn (Matt) Thompson and Maghan (Jeremy) Campbell; and son Mark Anthony (Tiffany) Walker of Alma and Mark’s children, Joseph (Jane) Walker and Jennifer Walker; and her daughter, Gail (Frier) Walker of Waycross; and the children of Morris Dowling, Marilyn (Dowling) and Jimmy Bowen of Blackshear, Carolyn (Dowling) and Marvin Pipkin of St. Simons Island, and Cindy Dowling, whose husband was Morris (Buddy) Dowling, Jr., of Blackshear.
Surviving great and great-great grandchildren include Devin Walker, Addie Daughtry, Mason Thompson, Joslyn Thompson, Micah Thompson, Nathanael Thompson, Norah Campbell, Calvin Campbell, Miles Campbell, Molly Frier Cornelius, Henry Frier, Scarlett Walker, Angus Cornelius and Jessie Walker. Also, she adored many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Dowling will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, August 10 from the First Baptist Church, Blackshear, with Dr. Bill Young and Dr. Justin Gambrell officiating.
The family will be receiving friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
Interment will be in the Alabaha Cemetery.
The family kindly requests Holly Frances, Betty A. Dixon, Kristie Hicks, and Renee Taylor as well as members of the Hands to Work group to serve as honorary pallbearers. Please meet at the church by 1:30 p.m., Thursday.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 670 Main St., Blackshear, 31516, Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, 31501, or the Alabaha Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 4168 Alvin Walker Road, Blackshear, 31516.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.
Pearson Dial Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
