Thelma Gwen Fowler

Thelma Gwen was born August 30, 1930, to Sterling and Mabel Buckner Beasley in Limestone County, Alabama. Thelma Gwen was the younger sister of Marilena Beasley Boyd. Their father, Sterling, died when Thelma Gwen was two years old. Their mother, Mabel, became a school teacher and the young family subsequently moved into their grandfather’s home where they were raised and went to Ardmore High School.

Thelma Gwen was smart and talented, and her gifts were encouraged by her mother and grandfather. She skipped third grade in school, and eventually graduated as valedictorian of her high school class.

Thelma Gwen married the love of her life, Spencer Harold Fowler, on December 31, 1947, and the two of them went on to have five children, Joe, Ralph, Jill, Tracy, and Mitzi.

Thelma Gwen was predeceased by her parents Sterling Beasley and Mabel Buckner Beasley Jackson, her step-father Arlie M. Jackson, her husband Harold Fowler, her sister Marilena Boyd, and brother-in-law Andrew Jackson Boyd, Jr.

She is survived by her five children, Joe (Marilyn) Fowler, Ralph (Wendy) Fowler, Jill (Dennis) Marceau, Tracy (Cheryl) Fowler, and Mitzi (Johnny) Evans; and eleven grandchildren, Dallas, Dusty, Daniel, Drew, Lee, Nicholas, and Melissa Fowler, Alan Jones, Elizabeth Bennett, John Evans, Hannah Beth Ray; fifteen great-grandchildren; nephew Bruce Boyd, and niece Sherry Boyd Burkhead.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 2 p.m. at McConnell Funeral Home in Athens, Alabama, with Pastor Mike Green officiating. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at McConnell Funeral Home. Interment will be at Roselawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will include grandsons Daniel, Dallas, Drew, Dusty, and Nicholas Fowler, and grandson-in-law Matt Ray.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.