Josephine Screws McGowin died on November 21, 2017. She was a native Montgomerian and a teacher in the Montgomery area public and private schools for over 30 years. Jo was predeceased by her parents, Elizabeth Anderson and James Lahey Screws, and her husband, Claude Mastin McGowin of Greenville and Montgomery.
Jo is survived by her two sons, James Lahey McGowin (Karen) of Cypress, Texas and William Claude McGowin (Anne Elizabeth) of Montgomery, Alabama; her grandchildren, John Mastin McGowin and Phoebe Katherine McGowin of Cypress, Texas; Elizabeth Drake McGowin and Margaret Preston McGowin of Montgomery, Alabama; and her brother John Anderson Screws (Cynda) of Birmingham, Alabama and his children Anderson McKean (George) of Fairhope, Alabama and James Mathis Screws (Mary) of Birmingham, Alabama.
Joe was the only granddaughter of William Preston Screws who organized, trained and led into combat the 167th Infantry Regiment in World War I. She was inspired to support the heroic art memorializing the 3,677 Alabama men who served in the historic Rainbow Division. Her maternal grandfather, Judge John C. Anderson, was Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
A memorial service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church on Monday, November 27th at 11:00 am with Reverend Robert Wisnewski officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to
- St. John's Episcopal Church
- Montgomery County Historical Society
- Hospice of Montgomery
- A beneficiary of your choice.
Published in the Montgomery Advertiser from Nov. 24 to Nov. 25, 2017.