Mildred Vanarah Dowdy, 88, of Germantown, TN. passed away on October 4, 2024, at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House surrounded by her family.

Millie was born May 25, 1936, in Dyersburg, TN. to Elbert and Lula Harber. She was raised in Memphis, TN. and was a graduate of Humes High School and Southwestern College. On August 15, 1954, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Jack Dowdy. She worked for First Tennessee Bank over 20 years and retired from Morgan Keegan in 2011. She loved her four children and her greatest joy in life was spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchild. She was a parishioner of Georgian Hills Baptist until 2005; then became a parishioner of Collierville First Baptist Church. She loved making her famous fudge and party mix at Christmas. She loved attending plays at the Orpheum, gardening, attending church and going to flea markets.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 49 years, Jack Dowdy Sr.; parents Elbert and Lula Harber and her sister, Janette Rhodes.

She is survived by her four loving children, Bonnie Schuster (Dave) of Collierville, TN; Jacqueline Wallace (Matthew) of Marion, AR; Phoebe Weatherford of Bartlett, TN; and Jack Dowdy Jr. (Beverly) of Collierville, TN. She was a doting grandmother and leaves behind her 9 grandchildren, Kristin Wreyford (Bobby) of Paragould, AR; David Schuster Jr. (Kristen) of Collierville, TN; Candice Gross (Gene Easter) Of West Memphis, AR; Katie Watts (Christopher) of Collierville, TN; Sarah Snipes (Joshua) of Bartlett, TN; Amy Poindexter (Cameron) of Olive Branch, MS; Zachary Schuster (Madison) of Fredericksburg, VA; Elizabeth Weatherford (Kody Frasure) of Marion, AR. and Kelly Dowdy of Collierville, TN. She had 19 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She also leaves behind her two nieces Cathy Sherman (Roger) and Jennifer Hobson (Dwayne) all of Millington, TN.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at Collierville First Baptist Church on Byhalia Road at 5:00 PM. Visitation services will be held at Northridge Woodhaven Funeral Home in Millington, TN. on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Funeral Services to proceed following visitation at 10:00 AM.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to Brookdale Germantown and Baptist Reynolds Hospice House. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in memory of Millie.