Charles Ferrell Dowdey - born in Americus, Georgia on November 8, 1936 to Jefferson Ferrell Dowdy and Grace Jackson. He graduated with honors from Georgia Tech in 1959 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He received his Doctorate of Divinity in 2008. He was married to the late Patricia Helton Dowdey for 62 years. He worked for Shell Oil Company in New Orleans, Louisiana and Houston, Texas for 10 years. He was a Minister of the Gospel for 38 years - 12 years as an associate pastor and 26 years as a pastor. He taught Bible class at King's Way Christian Academy for 10 years and taught at West Georgia Baptist College for approximately 9 years. He taught adult Sunday School until 2018 and preached at the Atlanta Baptist Rescue Mission once per month until 2018. He is survived by his 3 children: Kim (Ron) Reynolds, Diane (William) Sexton, and Charles (Dianne) Dowdey Jr.; his grandchildren: Andrew (Talara) Hulsey, Sadonya Sexton, Patricia Jane (Christopher) Francis, Will (Meredith) Sexton, Ryan (Heather) Reynolds, Charles (Joanna) Dowdey III, and Ben (Brittany) Dowdey; his great-grandchildren: Anleigh, Kate, Raiden, Liam, Lydia, Atlas, Cayden, Lincoln, Charles IV, and Cara; his sisters: Inez Mazeika and Genny (Billy) Woods. He is preceded in death by his parents: Jefferson Dowdy and Grace Jackson; his wife, Patricia Dowdey; his sister, Florene Stevens; and his granddaughter, Katrina Sexton. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 15 from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. in Lakewood Baptist Church. The Rev. Ronnie Gilbert will conduct the funeral at 1 p.m. in the church. Interment will follow the next day at Chattanooga National Cemetery at 1p.m. Donations should be made out to Lakewood Baptist Church Missions Program in his name.