Extracted from The Southern Herald (Liberty, MS)
Friday, October 15, 2010

EDITH FITZGERALD

Funeral services were held Thursday, October 7, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at Catchings Funeral Home in McComb for Edith McDowell Fitzgerald, 93, of McComb.

Pallbearers were Brian and Ian East, Patrick Robinson, Mike Farnham, Johnny Graves and Dr. Van Simmons.

Ms Fitzgerald passed away Tuesday, October 5, 2010, at her residence.

Born March 11, 1917, in the Mars Hill Community in Amite County, Ms Fitzgerald was the daughter of Russell D. and Bessie Anders McDowell, both deceased.

Following high school graduation at Mars Hill School, Ms Fitzgerald attended St. Mary of the Pines and Southwest Mississippi Community College. She was active in the PTA while her children were in school and was a room mother.

Ms Fitzgerald was a homemaker, a Girl Scout Leader, a Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center pink lady, and enjoyed traveling. She was close to her many nieces and nephews.

Ms Fitzgerald was a member of North McComb Baptist Church, where she was active in the WMU, choir and XYZ.

In addition to her parents, Ms Fitzgerald was preceded in death by her husband, William Edward ``Ed'' Fitzgerald; a brother, Raiford McDowell; a sister, Edwina McDowell; and a son-in-law, James L. East.

Ms Fitzgerald is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, William ``Bill'' Edward Fitzgerald Jr. and wife Wanda of Bentonia; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jeannie Gary and Al of Mendenhall and Joyce Barnes and Wayne of Zachary, Louisiana; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Tommy McDowell and Kitty of Florence, Bowdre McDowell of New Orleans, and James D. McDowell and Ginny of Palm Desert, California; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Jonnie Gordon of McComb, and Anne Bardwell and Thomas of McComb; grandchildren and their spouses, Brian East, Ian East and Elly, Jessica G. Wilson and Estus, Jamie Gary, Jenny G. Peden and Michael, Patrick Robinson and Jackie, April Martin and Patrick; step-grandchildren, Eberly Barnes, Kimberly and Court Adkins, Sharlon, Liz and Trevon Barnes, and Leyete and John Johnson.