Mrs. Betty Jo (Banner) McDowell, known to her friends as "B.J." and to her family and neighbors as "Granny'', took her journey home to glory on March 3, 2022, at the blessed age of 88.


She was born a beautiful coal miner's daughter on May 3, 1933, to Sylvester Banner and Willie Ella Garrett in Winding Gulf, West Virginia. Her family then moved to Winston-Salem, NC where she spent time with her aunt Minnie Eldridge until she and her brother were placed in an African American orphanage, the Memorial Industrial School. However, if you asked her if she was an orphan, she would quickly reply, "Shoot, no! My father came to visit me every weekend from West Virginia".


Betty Jo graduated from George Washington Carver High School in 1950. She went on to serve in many roles such as a teacher's aide at Carver Crest (now Cook Elementary), Sunday school teacher, seamstress and housekeeper, before retiring from Medical Park Hospital in 1995. Her specialty was being a Mother, not just to her own but to others as well. She loved laughing, bowling and dancing with her family which spanned across 5 generations.


Betty Jo was preceded in death by her mother Willie Ella Garrett, father Sylvester Banner, husband Willard McDowell, brothers Raymond and Sylvester Banner Jr., daughters Beverly Ann Moore, Deborah E. Thomas, and her baby boy Byron "Rabbit" McDowell and granddaughter Betty S. McDowell.


She leaves to cherish fond memories, her son Vincent R. McDowell of the city, daughters Cynthia (John) Wall Jr. of Pfafftown, NC, and Vanessa D. McDowell of the city, cousin Albert McDowell of the city, 15 grandchildren, a devoted grandson Orienthia Jerome McDowell, 31 great grandchildren, 21 great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.



A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, March 12th at 1:30pm at Douthit Funeral Services, 515 Specialty Park Drive, Winston-Salem. Interment will take place Monday, March 14th at 12:00pm at Parklawn Memorial Gardens, 2730 Peters Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem. A public viewing will be held Friday March 11th from 1pm until 5pm at Douthit's. Arrangements are in the care of Douthit Funeral Services.