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Cleola Clarke Dowdy - Class of 1943

Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 05/Sep/2025
71.223.128.109

    Cleola S. Clarke Dowdy was born in Kingston, New York. As the daughter of a Methodist minister, she spent her early years living in various cities across the state of New York. She graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, NY. Following in her mothers academic footsteps ”her mother having graduated from South Carolina State College” Cleola honored her legacy by enrolling at the same institution.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and, during her sophomore year, was initiated into the Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She demonstrated early leadership within the organization and served as Basileus (president) in her senior year.

During her junior year, Cleola met Fred Dowdy Jr., a returning war veteran who had enlisted in the U.S. Army. Their friendship grew into a lifelong partnership. After graduating, Cleola briefly worked in the Registrar's Office at South Carolina State but left the position to marry Fred.

Throughout Fred's military career, when Cleola could not accompany him on tours, she remained busy raising their daughters and continuing her professional journey. She worked as a caseworker with Social Services in Port Chester, NY, and later as a secretary for the Westchester County Board of Elections in White Plains, NY. While Fred was stationed at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, Cleola served as a secretary in the President's Office. She also spent a summer doing secretarial work at Fort Dix, NJ.

Cleola had a love of travel, and she and Fred journeyed to several countries with their daughters while stationed in Europe. She took classes in interior design and discovered a passion for decorating that would stay with her throughout her life.

In 1968, the family settled in Willingboro, New Jersey. Now retired from the demands of military life, Cleola fully embraced her love of interior design, enrolling in courses at Burlington County College to further develop her expertise.

In 1986, she became a charter member of Pi Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She served faithfully in multiple roles, including Hodegos (lead hostess) for several years and later as Basileus for four years.

Cleola is preceded in death by her late husband, Col. Fred Dowdy Jr. (Ret.), and is survived by her daughters Crissandra Holmes (Richard) and Deborah Moore (Charles), two granddaughters and a grandson. She was a loving great-grandmother to eight great-grandchildren and mourned the loss of her sixth great-grandson. A Diamond Soror, Cleola will be remembered for her elegance, her love of life, and her great sense of humor. - August 27, 1924 - May 28, 2025