Shirley Mae Carpenter Sexton Bowie 04/26/1936 to 08/14/2025

Mrs. Shirley Mae Carpenter Sexton Bowie, age 89, of Governor Bridge Road, Davidsonville, MD, died unexpectantly, yet peacefully, at home on Wednesday morning, August 14, 2025.

She was a kind, gentle soul that was well loved by all who knew her. She never spoke a harsh word and was always concerned about others.

She was a devoted wife to her husband, Kyle Hix Sexton, for 50 years. They resided in Harve de Grace, Nanjemoy, and Indian Head, MD, as well as in Ennice, NC.

After Kyle’s passing, she was reinvigorated with her marriage to William Lewis Bowie, Jr. of Nanjemoy, MD. She was a member of the Nanjemoy Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School in her younger years. She is also a lifelong member of Saddle Mountain Union Baptist Church.

Born on April 26,1936, in Ennice, NC, she was the daughter of the late Walter Wilborn Carpenter and Lillie Genetta Evans Carpenter Crouse. She is also predeceased by her brother Chester Edison Carpenter and her sisters Bertie Alfogene Wilmoth and Verna Rae Carpenter.

While married to Kyle, she nurtured her family and was an incredible cheerleader. She entrusted care of her children to her double first cousin Ferol Coulson while she worked and later retired from the Comptroller’s Office at the Naval Ordinance Station, Indian Head, MD. She started as a Telephone Operator and went to college at night to earn her Accounting degree. This led to her career as a Cost Accountant and Budget Manager.

She also started and was the 4-H Leader for the Nanjemoy 4-H Club known as “The Leprechauns”, where she taught humanity and led many fund-raising efforts to provide 4-H care baskets to local nursing home residents and others in need. She was active in the St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Fife and Drum Corp and drove a camper to the many musters that the Corp attended all over the East Coast. Successful endeavors with her husband, Kyle, included opening the Lone Star Cafe, the Indian Head Swap Shop, and Sexton Rentals, which consisted of many real estate investment properties.

Post retirement, she and Kyle moved back to Ennice, NC where Kyle passed in 2006. In 2009, she married William (Bill) Lee Bowie Jr. and moved back to Nanjemoy, MD. Bill unexpectantly passed on her 89th birthday, April 26, 2025. Due to Bill’s passing, she moved with her poodle “Ella” from the Bowie Farm in May 2025 to live with her daughter and son-in law, Sandra Jean Newport and Gothern (Bo) Noble Newport of Davidsonville, MD. She is also survived by another daughter and son-in-law Hilda Mae Ochoa and Ernesto Ochoa of Galax, VA, as well as step-daughters Tina Marie Millar and Terri Lynn Doak and step-sons William Lewis Bowie III, Gary Lee Bowie, and Emory Lee Bowie. She is also survived by many grandchildren, cousins, and other loving family members.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, from 4 PM until time of funeral services at 6 PM. Graveside Services will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at the Saddle Mountain Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Ennice, NC.