Billy Lee Dowdle, 90, residing in the coastal community of Darien, Georgia, died on Tuesday, February 18th. Born in Winona, Mississippi on February 9, 1935, Billy attended schools at Batesville, Clarksdale, and Hollandale, Mississippi: he graduated from Belzoni High School in 1953, and attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.

Billy had a career in trust banking that spanned more than fifty years. He began at First National Bank in Jackson, and subsequently served thirty-one years with the U. S. Treasury, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, retiring as Director for Fiduciary Activities in Washington, D. C. Since retirement, Billy worked as a consultant to the trust and asset management industry, principally through his association with Cannon Financial Institute in Athens, Georgia, and Promontory Financial Group, Washington, D.C., Billy served in the U. S. Army in Korea. Part of his time in the army was spent as an entertainer with special services, performing as a pianist with various groups in service clubs throughout Korea and the Far East, as

well as performing on the Ed Sullivan Show in New York.

Billy married Annette Wall of Jackson, Mississippi, on March 17, 1962. He would say his life really began on that happy St. Patrick's Day. Billy and Annette made their home in Orlando, Florida, Atlanta and Norcross, Georgia, and Naperville, Illinois. Upon retirement, they settled in Monroe, Georgia to be close to friends and family. After Annette's death in 2002, Billy moved to coastal Georgia to be near family in the Pine Harbor community.

An active church member, Billy was a United Methodist most of his life, having served as choir director for many years at John Wesley United Methodist Church in Norcross, Georgia, and Ray Memorial Presbyterian in Monroe, Georgia. He and Annette sang in the choir together at Wesley United Methodist Church in Naperville for seven years. After retirement, Billy and Annette joined Ray Memorial Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Georgia, where they served as elders. At his death, Billy was a member of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church in Darien, Georgia, where he served as Treasurer and member of the Vestry.

Billy loved music. He studied piano and voice for more than twelve years from which he derived lifelong enjoyment, frequently performing as pianist and vocalist in local churches, music guilds and choral societies. He leaves this earth with no regrets, only profound gratitude to God for giving him a wonderful life with Annette, for the joy of a nurturing and loving family, churches, friends, and business associates, and a highly rewarding career.

Billy was pre-deceased by his wife, Annette, his mother, Pauline Moore Dowdle, and his father, Henry Lee Dowdle, and his sister, Betty Jean Dowdle Jordan. He is survived by his nephew Carl Lunsford Jordan, Jr. of Douglasville, Georgia, Oscar and Brenda Dowdle of Waynesville, NC, Minnie Dowdle of Kosciusko, MS, Sue Hatcher of Columbus, MS, and numerous second and third cousins.

An in-church Eucharist service is scheduled for Sunday, March 2nd, 2:00pm at Saint Andrews Episcopal Church in Darien, Georgia, telephone number 912-437-4562. A reception will follow in the parish house.

Following the reception, a committal service for close friends and relatives will be at Brunswick Memorial Park. Persons wishing to contact the family should call Mr. Carl Jordan, Jr. 404-545-9349.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, PO Drawer 929, Darien, GA 31305, telephone 912-437-4562.