Homegoing Celebration for Marvin Lushel McDowell, April 12, 1952 - February 23, 2014, Tuesday, March 4, 2014, Noon, Bethel Family Church, 2217 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur, Georgia, The Reverend George Kelly, Pastor, Officiating

HOMEGOING <:ELEBRATION FOR
April 12, 1952 - February 23, 2014
Tuesday, March 4, 2014 -Noon-
BETHEL FAMILY <:HURCH
2217 Wesley Chapel Road Decatur, Georgia
The Reverend George Kelly, Pastor Officiating

Marvin Lushel McDowell, the fourth of ten children, was born to the late Lushel and Louise McDowell on April 12, 1952 in Juliette, Monroe County, Georgia. During his early school years, he lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee with his mother's sister, Sarah Butler and her husband, Charlie Butler and their daughter, Cora Butler. He attended Booker T. Elementary and Orchard Knob Junior High, and graduated from Howard High School in 1970. He moved to Detroit, Michigan to attend the University of Detroit where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Several years later, he moved to Georgia and attended Georgia State University where he received a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership (M.Ed.).
Marvin married Lapina Coons on July 13, 1973. To this union two sons were born.
Upon graduation from college in 1975, Marvin started his career as an educator with the Detroit Public School System. During his tenure with the Detroit Public School System, Marvin taught at Winship Middle School and Hubble High School. In 1981, Marvin moved to Decatur, Georgia and started a career as an educator with the Dekalb County School System. During his tenure with the Dekalb County School System, he taught at Dunwoody High School, then moved to Chapel Hill Middle School, Southwest Dekalb High School, and concluded his teaching career at Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Marvin retired from the Dekalb County Board of Education in May, 2011 after 30 years of service.
Being the tireless advocate of education that he was, he would occasionally work as a substitute teacher, primarily at his neighborhood school Redan High School. Marvin believed that every child has the ability and potential to learn. He would state that "it's just a matter of tapping into that potential and that student buying into what you are trying to accomplish."
Not only was Marvin a tireless advocate of students in the classroom he was just as committed outside of the classroom. His activities in and outside the classroom earned him some of the following recognitions:
Recognition of appreciation as assistant coach of girls baseball team (Pearls) Recognition of appreciation as assistant coach of the football team G.H.A.A. Jr. Midget
giants Successful completion of the Advance Placement Macroeconomics Teacher Training
Program from the Advance Placement Economics Institute Successful completion of the lnTech program from the Georgia Department of
Education Successful completion of the Georgia Integrating Technology Professional
Development Program for high school training from the Georgia Department of Education Recognition of appreciation as assistant coach in the Southwest Dekalb High School Track Program
Marvin departed this life on Sunday, February 23, 2014 in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He was preceded in death by one sister, Catherine Sims McDowell. He leaves to cherish his memory, wife, Lapina McDowell, Stone Mountain, Georgia; two sons, Karma! Jawand McDowell and Kali Antoine McDowell, both of Stone Mountain, Georgia; granddaughters, Kaliyah Charell McDowell, Stone Mountain, Georgia, and Kaylen Amari McDowell, Chamblee, Georgia; grandson, Deanthony Octavius Corbert, Stone Mountain, Georgia; sisters, Mary TownsRoss (Nathan), Farmington Hills, Michigan, Shirley McDowell Bender, Detroit, Michigan, Caroline McDowell McCants, Southfield, Michigan, Deborah McDowell, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Cynthia McDowell, Detroit, Michigan; brothers, Melvin McDowell (Audrey) and Donald McDowell, both of Detroit, Michigan, and John Tony Morgan, Chattanooga, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Gail Bernae Coons; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

PRELUDE
PROCESSIONAL
HYMN ......................................................................................... Leonard Smith
"Grateful"
PRAYER ........................................................................................George Kelly
SCRIPTURE ..................................................................................George Kelly The Old Testament The New Testament
SELECTION ............................................................................... Leonard Smith
"Total Praise"
REMARKS: (Two minutes)
Greg Goodman, Principal, Redan High School Genard Blu' Medley, Educator Brandi McCants, Niece
SELECTION ............................................................................... Leonard Smith
"Be Blessed"
EULOGY............................................................................... Quinton McDowell SOLO.......................................................................................... Marcus Ellison
"Goin' up Yonder"
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
RECESSIONAL
POSTLUDE
rfYnterment
Hillandale Memorial Gardens 6201 Hillandale Drive
Lithonia, Georgia 30058
cJJteprMt
Church Fellowship Hall

Iwish Heaven had a phone so I could hear ~our voice again. I thought ot ~ou
toda~, but that is nothing new.
I thought about ~ou ~esterda~, and the da~s before too. I think ot ~ou in silence, I often speak ~our name. Alii have are
memories and a photo in a frame.
Your memor~ is a keepsake, tram which
I'll never part. God has ~ou in his arms
and I have ~ou in m~ heart.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come
Come, Holy Spirit, come Let thy bright beams arise; Dispel the sorrow from our minds, The darkness from our eyes.
Convince us of our sin, Then lead to Jesus' blood; And to our wondering view reveal
The secret love of God.
Revive our drooping faith, Our doubts and fears remove; And kindle in our breasts the flame
Of never-dying love.
'Tis thine to cleanse the heart, To sanctify the soul;
To pour fresh life in every part And new-create the whole.
Dwell, therefore, in our hearts, Our minds from bondage free; Then shall we know, and praise, and love
The Father, Son, and Thee. .
From National Primitive Baptist Church Hymn Book

Karmal J. McDowell Melvin 0. McDowell Marlen McDowell Willie Slade

Kali A. McDowell Donald L McDowell Samuel Walton Alfred Jackson

Vera Green Patricia Reynolds Lakendra C. Starks

Tish Minifield Andrea Sims Brandi McCants

~htowk"t{iement
The family expresses sincere appreciation to each of you for the sympathy extended to us during th homegoing of our love one. Especially to Mrs. Alfreda McDowell, Mr. Reggie Rogers, and Ms. Vera Green. A special thanks to Donald Trimble Mortuary, Atlanta, Georgia, and Bethel Family Church, Decatur, Georgia.
Some people complain because God put thorns on roses, while others praise Him for putting roses among thorns. Marvin was among those that "Praise Him for putting roses among thorns."
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are ofgood report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8

Donald Trimble Mortuary, 1876 Second Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia

Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing
Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing; Fill our hearts with joy and peace; Let us each, thy love possessing, Triumph in redeeming grace: Oh, refresh us, Traveling through this wilde
Thanks, we give, and adoration, For thy gospel's joyful sound; May the fruits of thy salvation In our hearts and lives abound; May thy presence With us evermore be found.
Then, whene'er the signals ~riven Us from earth to call away, Borne on angels' wings to l~eaven, _ Glad the summons to obey, May we ever Reign with Christ in endle:ss day.
Robert Hawker, 1774
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" -Psalm 91:1-2
MKO Graphics & Printers, Inc. 404-523-1560