Williford Funeral Home

Dateline: Fuquay-Varina

Edna Rawls McDowell passed away after a lengthy illness on Sunday, May 25, 2008, at Dunn Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Dunn, NC. Her parents, Marshall and Mary Rawls; brothers, Wilson and Kermit; and sisters, Beatrice, Annie, and Christine Rawls Puryear, predeceased her.

She was born in the Rawls community (Fuquay-Varina) and graduated from Lafayette High School.

Edna’s loves were her family, home, church, nature and wildlife. She was very spiritual and held leadership roles in children’s and women’s ministry programs of the United Methodist churches she was a member of throughout her life.

She was a member of Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church.

She leaves to cherish her memory, Frank McDowell, Sr., husband of 61 years and devoted sons, Howard McDowell (Elizabeth) and Phillip McDowell (Jan); grandchildren, Ryan, Sara, Ian, and Sophie; and siblings Henry and Mattie Rawls, and Edie Rawls Isaacs.

Visitation and a memorial service in celebration of her life will be held at 4:30 pm on Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church, 100 S. Judd Parkway SE, Fuquay Varina, NC.

The family wishes to honor her pleasures and special love of birds by requesting that gifts be made to The National Audubon Society, 225 Varick Street, 7^th Floor Dept W, NY, NY 10014, or online at www.audubon.org