To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 4/20/22 • Approved: 4/20/22 • Last Updated: 4/23/22 • R1429616-G1429615-S3
January 16, 1929 - March 13, 2014
Mary Burke Sowell, 85, of Hot Springs, left her earthly body on Thursday, March 13, 2014, for her heavenly home.
She was born Jan. 16, 1929, in Millen, Ga., to Arthur and Mabel Peele Burke. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Naomi, Betty and Frances; her brothers, John and Mark; and her son, Stephen.
Mary and Robert C. Sowell were married on April 2, 1947. Mary was a member of First Baptist Church Hot Springs for 33 years. Her church family, especially Don White's Sunday School class, were very caring and supportive.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Robert C. Sowell, of Hot Springs; six children, Helen (Mike) McComber, of Houston, Texas, Deborah (Rick) Wilhelm, of Little Rock, Ron (Veronica) Sowell, of Las Cruces, N.M., Reverend Robert (Belkys) Sowell, of Los Angeles, Calif., Cheryl (John) Hendershot, of Grafton, Ohio, and Reverend Dan (Donna) Sowell, of Tallahassee, Fla.; twenty-eight grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Roberta (Robert) Lambert, of Albany, Ga., and Barbara Woodward, of Ridgeland, S.C.; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and numerous nieces, nephews, church family and friends.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 18, 2014, in the First Baptist Church on Central Avenue with Dr. John McCallum officiating. Mary's two sons are Baptist pastors, who will sing at her service, as well as her grandson, who is a worship leader.
Interment will follow at Crestview Cemetery, Highway 70E, under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Hot Springs.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Monday, March 17, 2014, at the funeral home and also at the First Baptist Church Hot Springs at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, 2014, one hour prior to Mary's funeral service.
Pallbearers will be Milton Raabe, Reverend Mike Brakebill, Tim Raper, Sr., Harold Humphrey, Steve Jackson, Jerry Suit and alternate pallbearer will be Tim Raper, Jr.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the First Baptist Church Building Fund or to the Potter's Clay Ministries, Inc.
The Sowell family is grateful for many care giving angels of mercy from Dierkson Hospice Care and Arkansas Area Agency on Aging.
Guest registry is at http://www.davis-smith.com.
Contributed on 4/20/22 by debbraszymanski
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 1429616