Vernice Cato Downs

Mrs. Vernice Cato Downs, 88, a resident of Dublin (Grady), Alabama, transitioned peacefully into her heavenly home on Saturday, September 25, 2021. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 PM on Sunday, October 3rd, in Dublin Church of Christ Cemetery with Rev. Kenny Hoomes officiating and Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing.

Vernice was born in the New Ebenezer Community in Crenshaw County, Alabama, and was the youngest surviving child of eight siblings. She accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and joined New Ebenezer Baptist Church, where she began teaching Sunday School at the tender age of 13, and later met her future husband, Pete, at a revival service.

Faith in Jesus Christ was everything to Vernice and Pete. From the beginning of their marriage, their lives were focused around church and serving their Savior. As a young couple, that service took the form of teaching Sunday School, as well as visiting the sick and elderly in nursing homes and mental hospitals. Church functions and meetings were very important to them, so they eagerly attended the annual meetings of the Alabama-Crenshaw Association and the Alabama State Board of Missions. Vernice was also an active member of Woman's Missionary Union (WMU).

Vernice and Pete loved few things more than spending time with their cherished family. Vernice also enjoyed studying and teaching the Bible, reading, and sewing. She loved her pets, especially her dogs. From her earliest days, puppies were her preferred playmates. Later in life, her dogs were like her children. She had a gift for numbers, so she enjoyed a long career as a bookkeeper until her retirement in 1996. After her retirement, she dedicated her time to helping raise her grandchildren.

Mrs. Downs was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, Benjamin R. "Pete" Downs; their infant children, Dorothy Jane Downs, Gary Steven Downs, and Anita Denise Downs; parents, James Andrew & Lucy Jane Brasil Cato; and siblings, Mary Elizabeth Meredith, John Tommy Cato, Ruthie Mae Selph, General Robert Cato, James Henry Cato, Bertie Mae Selph, and Joel Cato.

She is survived by her daughters, Naomi (Josh) Oliver and Lanell Smith; grandchildren, Mary Norman, Racheal (Dex) Gilley, Sarah (Scott) James, Jamelyn (James) Hughes, and Angela (Scott) Watkins; great-grandchildren, Alex Quackenbush, Raelynn Gilley, Ryleigh Gilley, and Ryles Gilley, Kaden James, and Caroline Hughes; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Active pallbearers will be James Hughes, Scott Watkins, Andrew Raybon, Boyett Raybon, Josh Oliver, and Carson Selph.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the WMU Foundation - Alabama Touch Tomorrow Today at 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, Alabama 35242 or at http://bit.ly/AlabamaTTT.