Ethel Lucille Lowder, 82, of 40941 Mt. View Church Road, Albemarle, NC, passed away at her home on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009. Her family will receive friends at the Stanly Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 6 PM until 8 PM and her funeral will be at 11 AM Friday, September 25th, 2009 at Hill Street Church of God. Pastors Thomas Andrufski and Tommy Lowder will officiate and burial will be in the Palestine Cemetery.

Born May 26th, 1927 in Stanly County, NC, Mrs. Lowder was the daughter of the late Henry A. Dry and Mary Hopkins Dry and was educated at New London High School. She was a retired employee of Wiscassett Mills Company and a member of Hill Street Church of God. She was a very faithful saint at Hill Street Church of God where she played the piano for almost 50 years. IN her last days, having no energy, she struggled to get to church, but she faithfully played the piano each time she came. Ma-Maw, as the family called her, has won the battle and now she is with Jesus. Everyone who knew her loved her and she will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her husband, James Lee Lowder; two sons: Tommy Lee Lowder and wife, Judy, and Eddie Ray Lowder of Albemarle; three daughters: Nancy L. Frick and husband, Ernest, Julie L. Simpson and husband, Charlie, and Cathy L. Hunneycutt and husband, Doyle; one sister, Edith Lowder of Albemarle; ten grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Five brothers; Bobby, Martin, Dillon, John, and Jimmy; and one sister, Louise Hathcock, preceded her in death.