Funeral services for Rev. William Benjamin Dowdy of Cordele were held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 17, 2017 in the chapel of Rainey Family Funeral Services.

The committal service followed in Midway Church Cemetery. The family will received friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

Benny, as he was affectionately known, passed away Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at his residence. He was born in Cordele and was the son of the late Tarlton Dowdy and Emma Statham Dowdy.

He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Arlette Wheeler and a granddaughter, Alicia Stewart.

A retired Methodist Minister, Benny was a 1954 graduate of East Crisp High School and attended Mercer University. He was a graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

He served churches in the Americus, Macon, Savannah and Valdosta Districts. A loving and faithful pastor, Benny was always concerned about the welfare of his members and was in return loved by all of them.

He preached the Gospel, visited his flock, ministered to the sick and shut-ins, and labored intentionally to nurture his churches spiritually. He was greatly appreciated and loved beyond his congregation and into the surrounding communities where he was assigned.

Benny is survived by his lovely and supportive wife of 47 years, Arlene Sanders Dowdy; two daughters, and their husbands, Lynn and Jerry Hayslip and Carla and Jeff Baker, all of Cordele; six grandchildren, Shea Wells and her husband, Michael, Bo Baker, Billy Jo Baker, Josh Wheeler, Wendy Hayslip and Heather Moore and her husband, William; and four great-grandchildren, Sawyer Wells, Joey Salay, Madelyn Moore and Eva Moore.

Arrangements are by Rainey Family Funeral Services. An online guest register is available at www.raineyfuneral.com