On October 25, 2021, Odye Lissie “Lou” Atkinson Sowell entered peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at the age of 92. She was born on December 1, 1928 to the late Simmons Lee and Liza Harding Atkinson.  The Revs. Wayne Cash, Troy Albee and Ray Brown will officiate her celebration of life which will be held at 11:00 on Tuesday morning, November 2nd, 2021, from First Baptist Church of Pine Ridge with burial following in the church cemetery.  The family will welcome visitors on Monday evening November 1st, from 5-7 PM at Norton Funeral Home in Hartsville, SC.

For over 30 years she worked for Hartsville Manufacturing Company and was a charter member of her beloved Pine Ridge First Baptist Church.  After retiring, she blessed and served many families throughout Hartsville as a caregiver of elderly people including her own dear, sister Mary.  For all of her devotion in caring for others, it was no surprise to anyone except Lou herself, that she was honored with the “Caregiver of the Year” award by the Hartsville Pilot Club in 2008.  Appreciated by all her family and friends as an exceptional woman, full of faith in Christ, she was known for her steady and simple ways and always ready to serve and bless others.  She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.

Lou was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Heyward W. Sowell and her siblings Roosevelt, Roby, James, and Mary Fields.
She is survived by her three loving children: Linda (Duffy) Stephens of Bethune, SC; Gail (Jim) Albee, Asheville, NC, and Lee (Sharon) Sowell
of St. Louis, MO. She is also survived by five grandchildren; Vanessa (Keith) Dixon, Heather (Ray) Brown, Amanda (Jason) Earle, Troy (Krista) Albee, and Eric (Carly) Albee. Along with twelve great-grandchildren: Steven (Melissa) Dixon, A. Brooke (Zac) Schultz, Noah and Karalyne Brown, Jayden and Sara Earle, Jack, Josiah, Natalie, and David Albee, Bright and Julia Albee; and one great-great granddaughter Arabella.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the faithful caregivers who showed compassion
and spoiled her in the past four years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Pine Ridge First Baptist Church, 3901 West Bobo Newsome Hwy, Hartsville, SC  29550.

Norton Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Sowell family.