Willie Jean Arrington

Willie Jean Lowry Arrington, a lifelong resident of Greensboro, and editor and publisher of The Greensboro Watchman since her late brother Edward E. Lowry, Jr.’s death in 1999, died quietly at her home during the wee hours of the morning on October 15, 2012.

Willie Jean Lowry was born May 28, 1932, in Boligee, the youngest of three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Lowry. She spent her entire life in Greensboro, most of it employed by The Greensboro Watchman, where she proudly received her first weekly paycheck of $25.00 in March of 1949. In addition to her dedication to the Greensboro Watchman, she was also devoted to her church, The First United Methodist Church of Greensboro, where she began singing in the choir at the age of 12 and continued until her death, 68 years later.

She was also an active, longtime member of the Greensboro Garden Club, holding the office of Secretary-Treasurer at her death. Willie was instrumental in writing, photographing, and editing the book “Historic Hale County,” which was published by The Preservation Committee of The Alabama Reunion in 1989. She was an avid collector of decorative pieces made in occupied Japan, and her most enjoyable hobby was to attend auctions and estate sales searching for treasures.

Willie was the last of her generation to pass, being preceded in death by her beloved husband of 51 years, Charles C. Arrington. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Edward E. Lowry, Jr. and Virginia Lowry Sharpe; and her parents, Edward Evans Lowry and Sarah Wilson Lowry.

Willie had no children of her own, but was very close to and is survived by her sister “Chubby’s” (Virginia) children: Rebecca Sharpe Johnson (Spencer), of Madison; Rachel Ruth Sharpe, of Auburn; and David Mitchell Sharpe (Cathy), of Alexandria, Ind.; and to Becky’s children Christopher Teel Johnson, also of Madison; and Sarah Kathryn Burroughs, of Atlanta, Georgia.

Services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 19, 2012, at the First United Methodist Church in Greensboro with the Rev. Nathan C. Elliott officiating, and Kirk Funeral Homes Greensboro Chapel in charge of the arrangements. The family will receive visitors at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the service begins. Following a short graveside service, the family will return to the church for lunch.

Serving as pallbearers will be Waymon Johnson, Clarence McCain, Mickey Harrow, Dr. Jimmy Payne, Braz Barnette, Phil Langford, Ellis Hoskins, and Elbert Ellis.

The family suggests memorial donations to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 73, Greensboro, AL 36744; the Greensboro Cemetery Association; or to the Columbarium and Memorial Fund, Grace Presbyterian Church, 5555 Wall Triana Highway, Madison, AL 35758.

All obituaries taken from the website of the corresponding funeral home unless otherwise noted.