Thomas Dowdy, Jr.
Born July 3, 1924
Once there were eleven children whose names were Thomas Jr., Jack, George, David, Paul, Henrietta, Rosa Lee, Mary, Martha, Elizabeth, and Sarah. They grew up in and around Glynn County, Georgia/Brunswick, Ga. To Mr. Thomas Dowdy, Sr., and Annie Mae Bryant Dowdy.
At age 13, Thomas worked at a sawmill company in Abbeville, GA. Several years later he was drafted into the US. Army at age 18 in 1943. He also completed his education while in the army. Thomas fought in World War II in the 784th Battalion as a PFC. His main job was the Ammunition Handler on a half-track. Thomas received an Honorable discharge on April 8, 1946. Later he married Valley Brown in 1948, and they moved into their new home in Durrs at 957 Northwest 16th Terrace. Thomas and his wife lived in this beautiful community until her untimely death in 1964.
His experience of driving trucks while in the Army helped him to land a job with Margaret Ann Grocery, which changed to Quick Check and is now known as Winn-Dixie, as an 18-wheeler truck driver. Thomas received several plaques as a safe driver from 1948-1989(41 years). He was 65 years old when he retired!
In 1966, Thomas united in holy matrimony with Arrie Lee Thomas, and he became the proud step-father of her two children (Loretta 16, and Anthony 15). Thomas also became a member of New Hope Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Phillips.
During his retirement years, Thomas and his wife shared many years of blissful moments shopping, eating out, playing spades 3 nights a week, and traveling. They traveled to Georgia, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, and California! They were enjoying life traveling throughout the Unites states. Thomas and Arrie shared 50 beautiful years together until her untimely death in 2017.
Now he is at home, not wanting for anything and being cared for by his daughter, Loretta Thomas Shorter for the past two and a half years. He is a proud grandfather of three: Tresa Stewart, Tarsha Davis and Lacey Shorter, Great-grandfather of eight: Stanley Davis II, Cadence Lewis, Dejah Lyn Grisby, Elijah Shorter, Tori Davis, Zaire Shorter Durrence, Ireland Shorter-Durrence and Kingsley Shorter-Durrence and great-great grandfather of one, Ka’ Marion Amir Mays, three god daughters, Gwendolyn Haynes, Mary Boyd and Maggie Butler, and a host of nieces and nephews.
His favorite pastime or things to do are…to talk about his days in the Army, watch The Young and the Restless, and read the daily newspaper without eyeglasses! He would also tell you he LOVES TO EAT!
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