Judy Mimi Wiles McDowell

Ms. McDowell was born in Wilkes County on November 13, 1939 to the late Roy Van and Ruth Davis Wiles. Ms. McDowell was a graduate of Greensboro Senior High School and she held Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education from Western Carolina University. She was a long-time Title I Reading and Mathematics teacher in the Swain County Schools. The final years of her teaching career were spent in the Thomasville City Schools.

Ms. McDowell was preceded in death by her parents and infant granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Townsend.

She is survived by four children; Julia McDowell Townsend and husband Tony of Sylva, N.C., Susan (Betsy) McDowell Cooper and husband Tommy of Candler, N.C., Anna McDowell Nash and husband David of Greensboro, N.C. and Eugene E.(Mac) McDowell IV and wife Sherry of Eden, N.C.; and by ten grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Ms. McDowell is survived also by a sister, Betty Wiles DeBrosse and husband Carl of Charlotte, N.C. and a brother, James O. Wiles and wife Roe of Raleigh, N.C.

A Service of Celebration will be held on Wednesday, 12:00 noon at Hanes Lineberry N. Elm Chapel with Rev. Chris Morris officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, N.C. 27405 or the local Hospice Organization of your choice.

Online condolences maybe made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com

This Obituary has been composed by our loving father Eugene E. McDowell III

A letter from Mac...

I had the honer of speaking at my Mom's funeral yesterday. I has a hard time finishing a sentence so I would like to share the most important points that I was too emotional to finish.

Thank you so much to HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE OF GREENSBORO, NC for going above and beyond the call of duty as hospice centers always do.

It is very hard to keep someone as sick as my Mom out of an assisted living environment. For the last 5 months mom has needed someone with her nearly 24/7 and for the passed 3 months it was a necessity. For the last 6 weeks the basic functions became a group project. Although my sisters and I did give up our weekends and all did what we could, 3 people stepped up like we never could have foreseen.

My Mom's first cousin Freda Jessup was sent straight from God. She stepped in when Mom first got sick, helping schedule appointments and later driving Mom. As her Cancer progressed she became Moms #1 care giver. With no training and no expectation of personal gain she basically gave up her personal life on an ever increasing scale until and even after Mom died. We the McDowell children owe her a debt of gratitude we will never be able to repay.

Secondly, I need to thank a man who has been in our lives for over 16 years. He is a good friend who married our sister Anna. My Br. in Law, David Nash was ALWAYS there to step in to spell (mostly) Freda and sometimes us to do the same things Freda did. A Son-in-law isn't supposed to take care of the personal needs of his Mother-in-law but he always did.

Third I want to thank my Niece Michelle Sterling. She was a ray of sunshine for Mom in her darkest days. She only recently lost her Dad to Lung Cancer but when asked she jumped right in and was there for Mom 24/7 for months. As Mom started to fade away she would light up at the sound of Michelle's voice. Michelle is now and forever a part of our family. (we love you)

My employer, Trans-States Express along with my Sisters' employers have been great being very flexible with our schedules and time off...Thank you all.

Lastly, I need to thank My Dad. Gene McDowell has been divorced from Mom for 29 (I think) years but he was there for Mom and his children when we really needed him.

All our Spouses and children have sacrificed the last year along with countless others. The well wishes from our friends and relatives helped us more than y'all will ever know. I know I have forgotten some people who need thanking and I'm sorry for that. We will be OK though, thanks to all of you.

With much love,

Mac McDowell, Anna McDowell Nash, Susan McDowell (Betsy) Cooper, and Julie McDowell (Miss Bossypants) Townsend