Cecelia Jeanette Dowdell

Jeanette Smith Dowdell was born on July 16, 1950 in Mercer, West Virginia to James and Valena Woods Smith. She attended Columbus Public Schools and graduated from Linden McKinley High School. A very bright young lady, she worked for the Huntington Bank of Columbus, OH, the Supreme Court Disciplinary Council for the State of Ohio and as a Paralegal and Secretary for many of Columbus's top lawyers for over eighteen years. She was baptized at a young age at the Bethany Baptist Church under the Pastorate of Dr. A. Wilson Wood; where she remained a faithful member serving as church nurse for many years until her health prevented her from doing so. On June 26, 1971 Cecelia Jeanette Smith married Henry B. Dowdell. They celebrated forty-three years of marriage. To their union, two lovely daughters were born, Nikki and Reagan Dowdell. To further her education and gain skills to care for her ailing mother, she attended Everest College to become a Medical Assistant. Cecelia loved working crossword puzzles and playing other word games. She was called Ma-ma by her grandchildren, and they loved spending time with her. Sometimes she would share fun time with a walk in a nearby park, spraying her grandchildren with a water hose as they squealed with delight or tickling them without mercy. Cecelia was a devoted wife, a loving mother and generous grandmother. She will be lovingly missed by her immediate and extended family. She is predeceased in death by her parents James and Valena Smith, her siblings James Smith Jr., and Margaret Smith-Reid. She is survived by her loving husband Henry B. Dowdell; two daughters; Nikki Dowdell and Reagan Dowdell; three grandchildren: Janiya, and twins Jamari and Jordan Taylor all of Columbus, OH; four sisters-in-law; Cassietta Smith, Beverly Starghill, Gayle (Harriston) Wilson, Columbus, Ohio and Carol Dowdell, Atlanta, GA; three brothers-in-law; Vincent Reed Sr., William Dowdell, Dwayne Dowdell and Dana (Nina) Dowdell of Columbus, OR; two aunts; Geraldine (William) Scott of Saginaw Michigan and Clarice (Ali) Basido of Martins Ferry, West Virginia; one uncle; Jerry Woods of Bluefield, West Virginia; nephews; Marcus Smith and Vincent Reid II of Columbus, OR; niece; Amber Reid of Columbus, OH; great nieces and nephews; Shanell, Christian, Cameron, Pheana, Jaydin, Jayvion, Riana, Skyler, Secaya, and Vincent III, all of Columbus, Ohio.