Mary Alice Whaley Dowdy

Mary Alice Whaley Dowdy, 80, of Mill Creek, North Carolina, passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital in South Carolina.

A funeral service to honor Mary’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 3rd at Grace Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Dwayne Ebron. Interment will follow at Gethsemane Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Born on July 21, 1944, in Harlowe, NC, Mary was the daughter of the late Hugh Whaley Sr. and Nettie Culpepper Whaley. Growing up in a large family with seven siblings, Mary valued her family connections deeply throughout her life.

Mary was a beautiful Christian woman whose faith and love for the Lord was the strength of her life. She was a dedicated member of Grace Baptist Church, where she always valued her church family.

In her free time, Mary enjoyed fun shopping trips which generally included stops at the thrift stores. Nothing was more fun than finding bargains and special treasures.

Above all, Mary was a loving wife of 59 years, a wonderful mother, and a proud grandmother. Her grandchildren brought her immense joy and were truly the apple of her eye.

Those remaining to cherish her memory are her devoted husband, Leon Dowdy; sons, Bryan Dowdy, Daniel Dowdy (Melissa), and Justin Dowdy, all of Newport; sister, Brenda Harvey of Killeen, TX; grandchildren, Sierra, Jasmine, Lyla, Dillon and Heather, along with Cora Mae and Veta Lynn and their mother, Jamie Hitchcock; and 1 precious great-grandchild.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her sisters, Florine Hardesty and Frances Lilly; and brothers, Early Whaley, Johnny Whaley, Richard Whaley, and Hugh Whaley Jr.

As an expression of sympathy, flowers are welcome.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.