Mrs. Evlyn Dowden, age 88, and a resident of Hickory, passed away Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

Funeral services will begin at 12:00 pm on Monday, July 27, 2026 at Newton County Funeral Home - South Chapel. Burial will follow in the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Newton County Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Rev. Hal Bates will officiate the service.

Visitation will begin at 11:00 am on Monday at the funeral home and continue until the hour of service. 

Mrs. Dowden was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. She was a graduate of Marion High School. After graduation, she soon married her husband of 69 1/2 years, Carl, and was a loving wife and mother who provided for her family well. Early in her professional career, she worked at Mullers Department Store in Lake Charles, The Dowdens raised their four sons in Lake Charles, before they relocated to Mississippi in the early 1980's. They were devout Christians and were members of Chunky Baptist Church, and also members of the Gideons International. She will be remembered for the love that she had for her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son, Carl Dowden, Jr.; one granddaughter, Claire Elizabeth Dowden; her parents, Daniel and Cornelia Airhart and all nine siblings.

Survivors include her husband, Mr. Carl Dowden of Hickory; three sons, George Dowden (Kandice) Dowden of Raymore, MO; Ken Dowden (Karen) of Decatur and William Dowden (Lisa) of Terry; ten grandchildren, Linnie, Joy, Jacob, Ryan, Sarah, Troy, Ty, Wayne, Bennett and Landon; sixteen great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Bennett Dowden, Landon Dowden, Riley Reynolds, Robbie Reynolds, Wayne Dowden, and Will Fondren.

Honorary pallbearers will be George Dowden, Ken Dowden and William Dowden.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Gideons International, Inc., P.O. Box 297, Newton, MS 39345, Camp Pearl Ministries, 1132 Camp Pearl Rd., Reeves, LA 70658, or Mississippi Baptist Children's Village, P.O. Box 27, Clinton, MS 39060.

Newton County Funeral Home - South, 100 Old Hwy. 15 Loop, Newton, served the Dowden family. 

An online guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.newtoncountyfuneralhome.com