Beatrice Shepherd Howie

Thomson, Georgia

Phena Beatrice Shepherd Howie, 97, entered into rest at her home with family by her side on March 22, 2024.  Born April 19, 1926, in Reems Creek, North Carolina to the late Floyd Denver Shepherd and Pansy Maney Shepherd, she was the oldest of ten children and raised on the family’s tobacco farm in Weaverville, North Carolina.  She married her late husband Herbert Doyle Howie, Sr. on August 7, 1942, and together they raised three children and enjoyed 60 years of marriage prior to his death in December, 2002.

Bea was an avid bowler and retired from Major League, Inc., in 1991.  She was President of the Southeastern Women’s Bowling Association for several years and was recognized for her ability to organize tournaments and conventions for hundreds of women annually.

Love of family was foremost in her life, and she and her husband moved to Thomson, Georgia in May of 1993 to be close and present in the lives of their grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was Baptist by faith and the oldest living member of New Hope Baptist Church and the Charles Hanshew Sunday School Class.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her two sons; Herbert Doyle Howie, Jr. and Kenneth Boyd Howie; three grandchildren: Cheryl Rios, Mike Howie and Melanie Howie and Seven brothers: Jimmy, Kenneth, Blackwell, Taylor, Mitchell, Roy and Walter.

She is survived by her daughter, Belinda Howie Campbell, (Sidney) and five granddaughters: April Keene (Steve), Tonya Faircloth (Tommy), Stacey Hopkins (Paul), Stephanie Grady and Jaime Thieman (Jeff).  Her daughter-in-law, Beth Howie; nine great-grandchildren: Chris Bonin (Natasha), Cole Gray (Megan), Maggie Allen (Blake), Bailey Gifford (Perry,) Kayla Sikes (Steele), Michael Howie (Holly), Campbell Grady (Lois), Briley Grady and Trey Thieman; nine great-great grandchildren: Layla and Anderson Bonin, Peyton, Blakely and Wyatt Gray, Graham and Wills Allen, Brooks Gifford and Kennedy Sikes; one brother, Jack Shepherd and one sister, Mae Mundy (Willard); numerous nieces and nephews and cousins and two dear friends, Barbara Hanshew and Nell Joyner.

The family would like to thank Allay Hospice for the compassionate and excellent care provided in her last days and Stephanie Belton for her unselfish companionship each morning.

Her Visitation will be held on Friday, March 29, 2024, from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. at Beggs Funeral Home, and her Funeral Service, being officiated by Rev. Allen Holbrook, will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Beggs Funeral Home Chapel, 799 Cobbham Road, Thomson, Georgia with the interment at Savannah Valley Memorial Gardens following the service.  The pallbearers for the services are her great grandsons. Please visit www.beggsfuneralhome.net to sign the family’s personal guestbook.

Memorials in her name may be made to the children’s ministry of New Hope Baptist Church, 1424 Cobbham Road, Thomson, Georgia 30824 or McDuffie Manna, Inc., P. O. Box 295, Thomson, Georgia 30824

Beggs Funeral Home, Thomson, Georgia is honored to serve the family of Phena Beatrice Shepherd Howie.

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