Burdelle Jackson Dowdell

Edwards Small Mortuary announces with our deepest sympathy the passing of Burdelle Jackson Dowdell.  Burdelle Jackson Dowdell entered into eternal rest on December, 11, 2022.  Our condolences to the family and friends.

Burdelle Jackson Dowdell (Grandma to many) was born on April 23, 1939 in Fort Valley, Georgia. She was the fourth child of twelve children born to the late Roosevelt Jackson Sr. and Clottea Solomon Jackson. Burdelle was a lifelong learner. She received her diploma from H. A. Hunt Valley High School in 1958 and went on to receive her Bachelors in Economics from The Fort Valley State College.
She married the late Bobby Rumph and to this union two children were born, Beryl Ann Rumph and Kenneth Gerld Rumph. Deciding that she wanted to advance her career, she moved to Washington DC in 1960. In 1962, she found love with and married Herman Dowdell. They welcomed their son Brian Andrew Dowdell in 1964. She became an active resident of Columbia, Maryland in 1974.

She found and flourished in her career as a mail distributor for the United States Postal Service in Washington DC and retired after 35 years of faithful service. As a person who loved meeting new people, she worked part time after retirement at Hecht’s department store for many years. Never one to have a dull moment, Burdelle was an active member of the National Association for Retired Federal Employees (NARF) for over 20 years, serving as the president for her local chapter for two terms. Always willing to brighten someone’s day, Burdelle served as the Sunshine Chair of her local NARF chapter, which included monthly luncheon gatherings. She was always the life of the party and volunteered at events like Wine in the Woods at Merriweather Post Pavilion.

If you knew Burdelle, you knew politics and local government were her passions. She could regularly be found volunteering with the Democratic Party, campaigning for local candidates, and assisting with elections. Burdelle believed in making a difference in her community, serving as the president of the Oakview Homeowner Association and being a licensed notary for many years. Of all the activities she was a part of, her favorite times were shared with friends and loved ones, taking walks around the neighborhood, gardening, watching TV, reading the daily Washington Post newspaper, and taking bus trips with friends. Most of all she LOVED watching sports such as basketball and especially football. She enjoyed cooking her southern foods as well as baking homemade cakes and pies.

On Sunday, December 11, 2022 Burdelle transitioned from this earth to be with the Lord. Welcoming her home were her late siblings Johnny Lee (Buck), Bernice Jackson Campbell, Russell Jackson, Roosevelt Jackson (Jitt)and her beloved parents Roosevelt and Clottea Jackson. Burdelle leaves to cherish her memory three children a devoted daughter Beryl A. Turner and her two sons Kenneth G. Rumph and Brian A. Dowdell, her four grand grandchildren Fern M. Turner, Kenneth G. Rumph Jr, Aneeah Dowdell, Briana Dowdell, a great-granddaughter, Arianna W. Ngare, Son-in-law Wayne Turner and grandson-in-law James Ngare. Burdelle is survived by her sisters Clottea Williams, Betty Dinkins, Dorothy Stephens, Wilhelmina Sibley, and brother Bobby Jackson, her two goddaughters Valerie Hoge and Tanea as well as extended family Howard and Pati Morton and Sandra Reid.