July 26, 1936 –

May 22, 2011

Funeral services for Edith Shirley Adams Sowell, 74, originally of Donalsonville, will be held Friday, June 3, at 11 a.m. at Macedonia M.B. Church in Donalsonville with the Rev. Delbert Bradley officiating.

Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Quitman.

Mrs. Sowell was born July 26, 1936, in Donalsonville and died May 22, 2011, at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, Calif.

She spent her early childhood in Donalsonville, attended Seminole County Elementary School, and graduated high school from Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, N.C., where she was active in clubs, organizations and a star player on the varsity girls basketball team. She later received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla. She remained a member of Macedonia M.B. Church until her death.

She met and married Edward Brewer Sowell of Delray Beach, Fla. From that union two children were born. Shirley returned to Donalsonville and worked as an educator in the Seminole County Public School System for 32 years, retiring in 2003. After retirement she traveled visiting family in California, and Washington, D.C.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Brewer Sowell.

Survivors include her two children, Pamela Edith Alethia Sowell Gant of Washington, D.C., and Edward Brewer Sowell III of Costa Mesa, Calif.; one sister, Mamie Adams Benjamin of Laguna Hills, Calif.; two grandsons and a host of other relatives and friends.

Bruton Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.