Irene Nowell

Irene Ashworth Nowell was born Feb. 17, 1924, and passed away Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at the age of 100.

Proverbs 31:25-26

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”

Blessed by the grace of God at birth, Irene Ashworth Nowell was born into a God-fearing family to Lexi “Hobo” and Mamie Ashworth in Singer, on Feb. 17, 1924. Although not wealthy in silver or gold, she was given from birth the greatest gift – a relationship and understanding of the importance of a relationship with God and Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Her century-plus life here on earth definitely had its trials and tribulations, but her family’s upbringing, centered on hard work, family relationships, and most importantly, a relationship with God, kept her focused and heaven-bound in pursuit to one day walk the streets of gold with her Savior, Jesus Christ, and collect her promised reward to leave behind the pains of her earthly body for an eternity of plenty.

On Jan. 3, 2025, Irene found her reward as promised, and she is walking the streets of gold hand in hand with her savior, Jesus Christ; walking in awe as it is beyond her wildest imagination.

Her first gift from God, her parents and upbringing, set in motion the building of her greatest gift – her family. Immediately following graduation from Singer High School and the challenging times of WWII, her soulmate Bill Nowell whisked her off her feet to marry. They were blessed with four beautiful daughters and the beginning of Irene’s greatest accomplishment here on earth – her family.

Here with her family, where God, the Good Book, and family time were all Irene needed to feel blessed and happy. She instilled in her children the same values of God and family first and a constant pursuit of Heaven’s gates. Even in the bad times, Irene would make it so her family had no idea, taking a bare pantry and creating a feast. A constant prayer warrior, she would take the trials with her into her prayer closet and leave them with the Lord to handle.

As time progressed, her greatest blessing grew and grew with grandkids. Irene invested in teaching each new addition the importance of a relationship with Jesus and giving her love. This created not just a normal relationship but one where the grandkids and great-grandkids competed with one another and each felt that they were Irene’s “Best Friend”!

Irene’s life was not just about her personal relationship with Jesus but always focused on guiding others onto this path. Irene always leaned on family through the good times and bad times. This was especially in plain sight for all late in life when she and her two big sisters lost their husbands. Instead of giving up, the three lived out a Pentecostal version of the “Golden Girls”. Irene, Helen, and Inell Clark, became inseparable. The three Bible-toting amigos/PIC – Partners in Christ – took care of one another and continued their mission of spreading the word of God.

They did have a “not so” secretive competitive streak, but this only pushed each in their spiritual journey. Their Bible readng turned into a race resulting in reading the entirety 20-plus times in a single year. They lived by the Good Book’s teachings without compromise, all whilst celebrating and partying with Uno and Jesus. They were blessed and had fun like three teen sisters at summer camp.

Her consistency in faith, love, and teaching continues today and exemplified through her family. What she created here on earth shines bright as the sun and is symbolic of her walk with Jesus – her family and their personal walk with Jesus serves as a beacon for others to follow and will continue her legacy long into the future.

This living legacy is her most prized earthly possession: Irene’s Family. Each family member is not only blessed with her love, blessed with her recipes for homemade biscuits, red gravy, fried chicken, and chocolate sheet cake, blessed with their love for each other, but most importantly, they are blessed to call her Mama, Mawmaw, friend, and to claim being “her favorite”!

This treasure that Irene worked tirelessly to build through love, hard work, and prayer does not die with her leaving this world and joining the choir of angels but instead will continue her legacy for generations to come. Here on earth, Irene’s living legacy and her greatest blessings are left to continue with their own relationship and walk with Jesus.

They are her daughter Beverly Litton and husband Dr. Freddie Litton, daughter Mamie Giffin and husband Donald, daughter Tawana Nowell; as well as her brother Wilburn “Rabbit” Ashworth; her daughter in Christ, Tere Kelly; and numerous nieces and nephews; 18 grandchildren: Jeremy Litton (Heather), Stephen Litton (Amy), Dr. Jennifer Litton, Christopher Mills (Christine), Jeffery Mills (Angela), Donald Giffin II (Yvonne), Emily Rollins (Lance), Sarah Sturrock (James), Ambra Kent (Matthew), and Chez Nortman; 15 great-grandchildren: Hannah and Elijah Litton, George Boudreaux, Taylor, Bailey, and Riley Mills, Donald III, Joshua, and Deacon Giffin, Lucille Rollins, Mabel Sturrock, Rowan, and Ezra Kent; and one great-great-grandchild: Brayden Mills.

Awaiting her in Heaven, Irene joins a host of loved ones at the pearly gates, ready for an eternity of joy, having already shuffled the dominoes and dealt Phase Ten cards at her homecoming party. They include her husband, Willis “Bill” Nowell; daughter and grandson Kitty and Josh Mills; her parents, Hobo and Mamie Ashworth; siblings: Willie, Helen, Inell, Ola, Harold, Homer, Paul, Roger Dale, Richard Ratcliff (nephew), James; and numerous friends she led to Christ.

While tears will fall, all who knew her loved her, and Irene is blessed, and her living legacy-her family-are blessed.

Just as she used the Bible as her roadmap to her reward she finds today, let us look to the Good Book as she taught.

“For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” – Psalm 90:4

Join us as we celebrate Irene’s life, knowing that what seems like an eternity here on earth is but a moment in the presence of the Lord.

The family received friends from 6-8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 6, at Riley Smith & Sons Funeral Home in DeQuincy. Funeral service was held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Singer Pentecostal Church in Singer. Rev. Dustyn Rose and Bishop Sambo Ashworth officiated. Interment followed at Good Hope Cemetery in Singer.

Arrangements were handled by Riley Smith & Sons Funeral Home, 1810 W. Fourth St., DeQuincy.

(Paid Memorial)

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