Frances Elizabeth Haulbrook Gowder

Frances Elizabeth Haulbrook Gowder, 97, was called to be with the Lord on February 16, 2016 following a long, healthy life. Services will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016, in the Chapel of Hart's Mortuary, 765 Cherry Street, at 2:00PM with Dr. Bill Hammonds officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 1:00PM until 2:00PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Ronald McDonald House, 1160 Forsyth Street, Macon, Georgia 31201. Mrs. Gowder, born in Maysville, Georgia, Banks County, was the daughter of the late Robert Lester Haulbrook and the late Annie Mae Stevens Haulbrook. She graduated from Maysville High School in 1935 and from Waycross Vocational School, Waycross, Georgia in 1937. She attended Piedmont College, Demorest, Georgia, where she also worked as secretary to the Dean. Mrs. Gowder married the late Swayne Joseph Gowder on August 2, 1942. They had one son, Douglas Lanier Gowder, who is deceased (November 27, 2008). She was also predeceased by her siblings, Robbie Mae Haulbrook Kirk, William Charles Haulbrook, Joseph Donald Haulbrook and Harold Stevens Haulbrook. Mrs. Gowder retired from the State Department of Human Resources in 1983 where she served as secretary to the District Director for eight years. She had been a member of Mabel White Memorial Baptist Church since 1964. Mrs. Gowder is survived by her granddaughters, Ashlee Gowder Hammonds (Matt) of Macon and Andrea Gowder Sapp (Jason) of Gainesville, Florida; great-grandchildren, Collin Hammonds and Hannah Lanier Hammonds; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Gowder of Macon; and her beloved spaniel, Bella. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, 765 Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.