Mrs. Rebecca P. Dowdle passed away on June 14, 2012 at the age of 109 years at the Gold City Convalescent Center in Dahlonega, Georgia, where she has been a resident for the last 2 years. She was born in Greenville, Alabama in 1903 and was married to Ruble Charles Dowdle of Irvington, Alabama for 31 years until his death in 1960. A native of Alabama, she resided in Irvington and Mobile (Springhill), before moving to Dawsonville, Georgia in 1984. She was always active in church and was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mobile, Alabama for many years and later a member of the Berean Baptist Church in Dahlonega, Georgia.

Rebecca taught school full-time or performed substitute work for 35 years until the death of her husband. Widowed for over 52 years, Rebecca remained in Mobile and cared for her extended family. While there, she devotedly cared
for her two older sisters in the failing years and provided home care for ten years for her mother, Virginia Reid Powell, until she passed away at 108 years
of age. Rebecca enjoyed the same tenacity and health as her mother, remaining in the own home until the age of 81 before moving to Georgia and living with family.

She also remained active and pursued her own interests. She enjoyed her home, keeping it beautiful with many flowers and with her love of working in the yard. Rebecca cared well for the things that she owned, having been influenced by the years of the Depression. She began recycling many years before the movement became popular in an effort to reused and restore resources. She often used money from her recycling to give to the poor.

She also held a sense of adventure as noted in her willingness, at 70 years of age to travel with family member to Australia for several months, enjoying her first trip out of the country since her honeymoon. Photographs of her at the beach rolling on a barrel are a testament to her unique personality and strong will.

Rebecca was devoted to her faith in Jesus Christ and sought to be found performing good works, whether it was to help a neighbor or to write a letter to her congressman. She will be remembered for her strong beliefs, her willingness to stand upon them and her personal strength.

Survivors include Daughter & Son-In-Law, Becky and Ralph Drew, of Dawsonville, Ga.; Sons & Daughters-In-Law, Charles and Nellie Dowdle, of Mobile, Ala.; Walter Reid and Mabel Dowdle, of Atlanta, Ga.; Carleton and Marilyn Dowdle, of Dawsonville, Ga.; 15 Grandchildren, 29 Great-Grandchildren and 6 Great-Great-Grandchildren also survive.

A visitation will be held at Roper Funeral Home on Saturday, June 16, 2012, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Graveside Services and burial are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 23, 2012, at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, Dr. Jonathan Lovelady of Jacksonville, Florida will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Dahlonega Care Center, 343 Grove St. N., Dahlonega, Georgia 30533
Roper Funeral Home and Crematory of Jasper, Georgia is in charge of the arrangements