Betty Downer

Betty Maude Campbell Downer, age 94, of Meridian, Mississippi, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2025, at Diversicare of Meridian.

Funeral Services will be held at Central United Methodist Church in Meridian on Monday, January 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with Rev. Dr. Scott Wright officiating. Visitation will be held at 9:00 a.m. before the service. A private family burial will follow at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton, Mississippi. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Betty Maude was born November 13, 1931 to Will and Bernice Campbell in Meridian, Mississippi. She graduated from Meridian High School and Randolph-Macon Women's College in Virginia with a degree in Mathematics. While in college, she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. 

Following graduation and her marriage in 1953 to Edwin Equen Downer, the couple moved to Boston, Massachusetts where she solved equations in a Massachusetts Institute of Technology math and computer lab, while Edwin attended graduate school. As Edwin served in the U.S. Navy for five years, Betty Maude and Edwin lived in Newport, Rhode Island; Athens, Georgia; Yokosuka, Japan; and Port Hueneme, California, which fueled her zest for travel and reading. Betty and Edwin moved back to Meridian in 1959. 

Betty Maude taught eighth and ninth grade math at Northwest Junior High School and was a substitute math teacher at Lamar School. She was a long-time member of the Fortnightly Literary Club and the Crescent Literary Club. Betty also served on the advisory committee of Methodist Senior Services of Mississippi, on the boards of directors of the Meridian Museum of Art and Aldersgate Retirement Community, chairing the fundraising committee to build Dogwood Assisted Living. Betty was a founder of the Meridian Arts Council, serving as food court chair for two years for the Arts in the Park Festival. She was also a member of the Meridian Symphony, Meridian Little Theatre and volunteered at Merrehope antebellum home.

Betty Maude was a lifelong member of Central United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Williams Sunday School Class, the Shields Circle and the Bible Study Club. Betty also served as president of Central United Methodist Women for two years. 

Betty Maude enjoyed traveling worldwide with Edwin, cooking gourmet meals for her family and friends, playing bridge, reading, entertaining, and she never met a stranger. Her smile, fun sense of humor and infallible honesty will always be remembered.

Betty Maude was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Equen Downer; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Will Glover Campbell (Bernice Berry) of Meridian; and her brother, Will Glover (Bill) Campbell, Jr., all of Meridian. She is survived by one daughter and one son: Carol "Koko" Downer Mackin (James Stanley) of Birmingham, Alabama and Edwin Equen Downer, Jr. (Patty Key) of Floyds Knobs, Indiana; three grandsons: James Stanley Mackin III (Melanie Morales), Charles Berchmans Mackin and Will Glover Mackin (Madeline Lindsey); three great grandchildren: Rebecca Morales Mackin, James Stanley Mackin IV and Margaret Aileen Mackin; and her sister-in-law, Phyllis Kean Campbell.

The family would like to thank the caring team at Diversicare of Meridian for their love and support during her 13 years as a resident.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central United Methodist Church, Aldersgate Retirement Community, or the Meridian Museum of Art.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.robertbarhamffh.com.