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Notified of Mary's passing by classmates Charlotte Hutson Wrenn and Cathy Taylor Metz
/KLM 03.13.2022
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Mary Byrd Dowd
February 10, 1952 - March 11, 2022
Charlotte, North Carolina - Mary, a native of Charlotte, NC & graduate of Myers Park High School, 1970, followed in the footsteps of her mother, by developing her own teaching career both in Myers Park Baptist Church (MPBC) preschool and the Char-Meck School system for 30yrs. Mary spent 2 decades teaching at Irwin Avenue where she fostered the fundamentals of children's basic needs alongside teaching. Mary was often found bargain hunting for additional supplies to enrich children's education. Mary shared her love of teaching with the congregation of MPBC where she took on many roles to support the entire congregation. Though Mary loved teaching & serving her community her greatest joy was raising her 3 children. Mary has touched many in her lifetime & will be remembered as being caring, supportive, & for seeing the best in humanity.
Mary is survived by her children Chis Dowd; Jennifer Gomes & Fiancé Ashok Vangal & their children Olivia Gomes, Armand & Arvind Vangal; Katherine Butcher & Husband Matthew Butcher & son Ezekiel . Survivors also include former spouse Buz Dowd. Sister-in-Law Melissa Dowd & husband Corky Seltzer. Sister-in-Law Eloise Miller. Nephew Parker Dowd & wife Whitney Dowd, Jessica Dowd & Fiancé Chris Rogers, & Molly Seltzer. She also leaves many cousins, great-nieces & a great-nephew.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Mary will be held at Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 Queens Road Charlotte NC 28207, on March 19, 2022 at 11am. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to www.classroomcentral.org. The family would also like to extend their deepest gratitude to the Hospice & Palliative Care staff for lovingly caring for Mary in her final days. Special memories of Mary can be shared at www.kudoboard.com/boards/xRrrpYa5. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/charlotte/name/mary-dowd-obituary?id=33603018
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Katharine Lucas (Monk)
Sadly,
Cathy Taylor
Charlotte 'Chotty' Hutson Wrenn
The following tribute was written by Mary's former husband:
She was born on February 10, 1952 to Christenbury Jordn Byrd and Eleanor Black Byrd. She grew up in a beautiful 2-story Dilworth home at the intersection of East and South Boulevards. She attended the original Dilworth Elementary, where her aunt was a teacher. The building where she was taught still stands next to the tennis courts on Euclid avenue.
She was a member of the Myers Park High School choir and the Modern Music Masters. She sang several times in the Messiah that was held every year at Ovens auditorium.
She graduated from UNCC and was hired at Devonshire Elementry as an “emergency” teacher, due to an unexpected Jump in elementary enrollment. Thus began a 30 year career of excellence in CMS.
She co-taught with her great friend and mentor Louise Singleton for 2 decades at Irwin avenue Elementary. She and Louise and their 28 boxes of manipulatives gifted their students with skills far beyond the standardized education requirements.
Mary was a very active member of Myers Park Baptist Church. She was a Sunday School teacher, a youth mentor, worked the Wednesday night dinner line, and did dozens of behind-the-scenes things that the church needed done. She spent many years helping with or leading the Christmas Eve Tableau.
She was married for many years and loved being a mother. Despite scrubbing all of Chris’ hair off in his first bath and panicking that he would be forever bald, she was a very skilled mother and parent. Over the years many young parents benefitted from the model she set and the advice she offered them.
Carol King (Butler)
Mary will always be the sweet girl I knew with the shy smile. Smart and I am happy to learn she became such an influential teacher. None of us forget the great ones! She was lucky to have a large loving family. Sad she had to leave the planet. She will be missed.