William Henry Dowdy Sr.

William Henry Dowdy Sr., 83, of Hickory died Saturday, May 2, 2026 at his residence Born July 15th, 1942 he was the son of Wiliam Dowdy and Mary Passmore.

His children, Marian Johnson, Sarah Tipps - Alvin, Carolyn Pride (Greg), Anthony Doughty (Kim), Alice Rodgers, Mary King (Damon), Billy Doughty (Tonya), Lee Anna Flowers (Aric) and Maurice McDowell (Lynn); his sister, Willie Mae Lawrence; his former wife, Overseer E.J. Doughty; Special family friends, Thelma Harold and Derrick Sherrill; 52 grandchildren, 82 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren survive him.

In addition to his parents, his sister, Gloria Jean Doughty; his brother, Essom Foremon Jr.; his children, Georgia Doughty, William Doughty Jr., Mary Allison, Barbara Hurt and Jimmy Doughty and his grandchildren, Jerry Caudle, Markice Grays and Cameron Doughty preceded him in death.

The funeral will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, May 9, 2026 at New Hope Habitat Apostolic Church: 300 Eldred Street, Valdese, NC 28690. The family will receive friends from 1:30-2:00 P.M. at the church, and burial will follow at Southside Cemetery in Hickory.

Please sign the online guestbook on the Memorial Wall at www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Dowdy family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton 828-464-1555.