Mae Jarvis McDowell

Mae Jarvis McDowell, 85 of Carolina Beach passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2009. She was born in Forsyth County, NC on October 5, 1923 to the late John L. Jarvis and Erma Mickey Jarvis. Mae was a graduate of James A. Gray High School in Winston Salem, NC where she was a member of the National Honor Society and the Quill and Scroll. She moved to Carolina Beach in 1969 where she and her husband Leonard ran the Sea Shore Motor Lodge until they retired in 1984 Mae was a longtime faithful member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church at Carolina Beach where she had taught Sunday School and was currently a Trustee. For many years she managed the Federal Point Cemetery. She was a Past Matron of federal Point Chapter # 361, Order of the Eastern Star and had served as a Grand Representative to the state of Maine. She served as the dispatcher for the Federal Point Volunteer Fire Dept. in its early years and was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary. Mae was a faithful wife and helpmate to her husband Leonard J. McDowell for nearly 68 years. She is survived by her husband, Leonard; son Walter L. McDowell Becky and daughter Karen Vincent Hubert all of Carolina Beach. Grandchildren, Deborah Fuller Robert, Tyler McDowell, Bobby Helms Debbie, Jeffrey Helms Sharon, Sheri Slater Chris, and Mark Vincent Wendy. She was the beloved ""GiGi"" to her 13 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Two sisters, Louise Beeson, and Barbara Cannoy, and sister in law Dorothy Maddux. She was preceded in death by a brother, Francis Jarvis and two sisters, Betty Kirkman and Carolyn Truell, and a grandson, David McDowell. Visitation for family and friends will be 3 to 5 pm Sunday at Andrews Mortuary Valley Chapel. Funeral services will be held 1 pm Monday, January 12, 2009 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Carolina Beach. Interment will be in Oleander Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Billy Bordeaux, Charles Hett, Danny Jones, Jeff Helms, Mark Vincent, Chris Slater, and N.W. Cannoy. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church Building Fund, 300 Harper Ave., Carolina Beach, NC 28428.