Lula Vernell “Nell” Edwards Sowell, 92 passed away on July 27, 2018 at Jacob’s Creek Nursing Center, Madison NC, after battling dementia since her diagnosis in 2010.  

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM at Fredrick-Dean Funeral Home in Opelika on Saturday, August 4, 2018. The family will receive family and friends one hour prior to the service (12pm – 1pm) at the funeral home with interment to follow service at Garden Hill Cemetery in Opelika.

Nell was born December 25, 1925 to Elvin and Arviezena Edwards in Siluria (Shelby County) Alabama. She was one of 5 siblings. Mrs. Sowell worked at AT&T (South Central Bell) for 38 years as an operator and customer Service Representative until she retired. Her love was for the Lord, her family, her job, music and reading. Throughout her life she dealt with many challenges through a strong personal strength, losing only to dementia. Although her fight has ended, she can now Rest In Peace in Heaven with our Lord and Savior along with her dad, mom, and brother.

Those left to cherish her memory are her son; Tony Worthington (Linda); and her daughter Wanda Gilbert; she will be fondly remembered by 6 grandchildren; (Tonya Ann), Stacy Reed, Jay Worthington (Frances), Amy Worthington Whitley (Chris), Ashley Gilbert (Sara), Greg Gilbert; 10 great grandchildren, Anli Worthington, Virginia Worthington, Emma Whitley, Parker Whitley, Kristopher Worthington, Skye Worthington, Joseph Worthington, Rosie Worthington, Ruthie Worthington; her sister Sherry Edwards and daughters Phyllis Boswell and Kathy Wallace; her brother Joe Edwards (Martha) and son Micah and Daughter Jane; her brother Donald Allen Edwards Sr. (Vikki) and daughters Laurel and Allison; her sister-in-Law Bonnie Edwards and children Brenda, Kenny and Jenny; Special Family Members Sharon Yates and children Nathan, Mallory and Parker.

Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Earl Edwards; nephew, Donald Allen Edwards Jr. and son-in-law, Don Gilbert.

Fair Funeral Home in Eden, NC and Fredrick-Dean Funeral Home in Opelika, AL is assisting the Mrs. Nell Sowell family.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com or www.frederickdean.com