Virginia W. Mcdowell

Funeral services for Virginia Williams McDowell, 94, of Kershaw, S.C. will be conducted at 2:00 o’clock p.m., Saturday, February 26, 2022, from the chapel of Baker Funeral Home. Rev. Bryant D. Fersner will officiate.

Burial will follow in the McDowell family plot in Kershaw City Cemetery.

The family will receive friends, Saturday, February 26, 2022, prior to the funeral service at the funeral home, beginning at 1:00 o’clock p.m.

Mrs. McDowell, widow of James J. McDowell, Sr., passed away, Wednesday, February 23, 2022. Born in Charlotte, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Major William Greene Williams and Miriam Esther “Essie” Moretz Williams. She grew up in Lancaster, S.C. Virginia and her late brother, Bill were raised on White Street in the now famous “Kilburnie” which is the oldest standing residence in Lancaster.

Virginia was a 1946 graduate of the University of South Carolina and was a teacher in the Kershaw Area School System for 27 years. She began teaching at the age of 19 and never stopped. She tutored many children after she retired from formal teaching. She was a dedicated wife and mother to her boys and supported every activity they were involved in. Mrs. McDowell loved gardening and was involved and active in the Kershaw Garden Club. Her pride and joy in gardening were her lovely azaleas and dogwoods in her yard. Her yard was a true show place every Spring.

She was a talented bridge player and spent numerous happy hours around her bridge table with her friends. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting and in her later years could always be found sitting on her porch with her dog, Lily in her lap knitting a scarf for anyone who asked.

Mrs. McDowell was an avid sports fan and loved to watch her boys play football and basketball and enjoyed all of Alex’s many scouting achievements. She also enjoyed many trips to Clemson to see the Tigers play and the McDowell yearly family gatherings at the Carolina Cup races.

Most importantly, she was a wonderful wife, mom, grandmother, great grandmother, teacher and friend to all.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory; 2 sons, Dr. James J. McDowell, Jr. and his wife, Mary and Col. Alexander M. McDowell and his wife, Mary; 4 grandchildren, Jane McDowell and her fiancé, Shannon Hindman, Jeff McDowell and his wife, Rachel, Elizabeth McDowell and David McDowell and his wife, Kelly and 4 great grandchildren, Aidan, Emilia, Hunter and Logan McDowell.

Memorial remembrances in her memory may be made to Kershaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Post Office Box 611, Kershaw, S.C. 29067 or Kershaw Area Resource Exchange, Post Office Box 364, Kershaw, S.C. 29067.

Baker Funeral Home is serving the McDowell family.