Dolores Rooks Sowell

Dolores Rooks Sowell, 99, of Albany, GA, passed away June 6, 2017 at her home at Phoebe Senior Living at Morningside. Graveside funeral services will be held Saturday, June 10, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Methodist Church Cemetery in Baker County, GA. Rev. Charles Jones will preside.
Born on June 10, 1917 to the late Warren and Doris Rooks, she was a native of the Bethany Community in Baker County, GA. Three of her four siblings preceded her in death -- Milton Parr Rooks, Holly Ethelyn Brooks Bryan and Weyman Elmo Rooks. Her brother Carl Marion Rooks resides in Brunswick, GA. Mrs. Sowell would have celebrated her 100th birthday this Saturday.
She graduated from Morgan High School in Morgan, GA, attended Georgia Teachers College (Georgia Southern University) and graduated from Georgia Southwestern College with a degree in Education.
When she married James Glynn Sowell in 1941, they settled in Albany, GA. She was a wife, mother, homemaker and teacher. She was with the Dougherty County School System and last taught as a third grade teacher at West Town Elementary School. In 1974, Mrs. Sowell and her husband retired to Ochlockonee Bay, FL. She returned to Albany in 1992. Mrs. Sowell was a longstanding member of Byne Memorial Baptist Church and the Joy Sunday School Class.
Her family includes five children, nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Her children and their spouses are Larry and Peggy Jo Sowell of Woodstock, MD and Lake Blackshear, GA, Michael and Cathy Sowell of Easley, SC, Cheryl and Geoffrey Oliver of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, Janet and William Augustine Dunn, Jr. of Conyers, GA and Debra and Andrew Ackerman of Newport, RI. Grandchildren are Jamie (Haley) Sowell of Charleston, SC, Ethan (Taylor) Sowell of Easley, SC, Bill (Karen) Bodenhamer of Toronto, Canada, Beth Weatherill of Waterdown, Ontario, Canada, William (Sarah) Augustine Dunn, III of Boston, MA, Ian (Alison) Dunn of Buffalo, NY, Brett (Jennifer) Ackerman of Boston, MA, Kate Ackerman of Washington, DC and Amanda (Kevin) McDonough of Bradford, VT.