Celebrating the life of
Barbara Dekle Sowell
May 07, 1923 - February 22, 2009
Barbara D. Sowell
1923 to 2009
Barbara Dekle Sowell died February 21, 2009 at the age of 85 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida after a long illness. Born May 7, 1923, she spent her childhood in Cordele, Georgia. After she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Valdosta State College, she married Pat Blackshear Sowell of Brewton, Alabama. They lived and raised their three children at Isle of Hope in Savannah. Mrs. Sowell was an active volunteer in the Isle of Hope community including the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church. She spent many years as a reading teacher at Savannah County Day School.
Her surviving children are Ann Giles Fenn of Tampa, Florida, Nancy Runner Fred of Atlanta and Sam Sowell Patricia of Shalimar, Florida. Grandchildren are Cathy Wilson David, Emily Swiger Steve, Fenn Giles, Lauren Giles, Robert Runner, Sarah Runner and Sam Sowell. Great Grandchildren are Toby Swiger, Davis Swiger and Elliott Wilson. She has three surviving sisters, Emily Wakefield Mathew, Jane Cunningham and Joan Riles.
Visitation will be 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at Isle of Hope United Methodist Church.
Memorial service for Mrs. Sowell will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at Isle of Hope United Methodist Church with burial at Bonaventure Cemetery immediately following the service.
The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to Isle of Hope United Methodist Church or Covenant Hospice, 5041 N. 12th Street Ave, Pensacola, Florida 32504.
Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
Ann, Nancy and Sam, I was very sorry to hear of the death of your mother. I have many fond memories of her. Most of them fall under the category of Isle of Hope childhood. I remember playing in her yard with 'Robbie'. I remember going into the house for coke and being treated like a grown up. When I was older and engaged, I remember her telling me that when I married, if I was late fixing dinner to just throw on some onions to cook and it would smell like I had been cooking all day and then I could really start dinner. Mostly, I remember that she was always kind. Please accept my sympathy on your loss.
- Angela Quante Forand, Columbia, SC
Barbara was not only my Mother-In-Law Edith’s best friend she was a member of our family. She attended all birthday parties and both Mary and Daniels graduation from high school. She appears in so many of our family photographs and we took several vacations and trips together with her and Edith. We always referred to them as the “girls.†We shared much laughter and much joy and visits together at Marshview and we always tried to include her in our holiday events. She never came to my house empty handed and always brought a gift or a treat. Even after she began to “slip†away from us she would show up with a frozen container of strawberries or a partially opened box of cookies. I never heard her say an unkind word about anyone. She was truly the epitome of a gracious southern, genteel lady and we will cherish her memory.
- Ruth Mathis, Rincon, GA
Ann, Nancy and Sam, I was very sorry to hear of the death of your mother. I have many fond memories of her. Most of them fall under the category of Isle of Hope childhood. I remember playing in her yard with 'Robbie'. I remember going into the house for coke and being treated like a grown up. When I was older and engaged, I remember her telling me that when I married, if I was late fixing dinner to just throw on some onions to cook and it would smell like I had been cooking all day and then I could really start dinner. Mostly, I remember that she was always kind. Please accept my sympathy on your loss.
- Angela Quante Forand, Columbia, SC
Barbara was not only my Mother-In-Law Edith’s best friend she was a member of our family. She attended all birthday parties and both Mary and Daniels graduation from high school. She appears in so many of our family photographs and we took several vacations and trips together with her and Edith. We always referred to them as the “girls.†We shared much laughter and much joy and visits together at Marshview and we always tried to include her in our holiday events. She never came to my house empty handed and always brought a gift or a treat. Even after she began to “slip†away from us she would show up with a frozen container of strawberries or a partially opened box of cookies. I never heard her say an unkind word about anyone. She was truly the epitome of a gracious southern, genteel lady and we will cherish her memory.
- Ruth Mathis, Rincon, GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
