Mrs. Shirley Dowless Meares, age 83, of Lumberton, NC, passed away Monday, October 21, 2019, at Woodhaven Nursing Center in Lumberton. She was born in Bladen County on March 11, 1936 to the late Thomas Dowless and the late Annie Bell Thompson Dowless.

Along with her parents, she was also preceded in death by her son, Lacy Meares; a sister, Annie Mae McLean; and two grandchildren, Robin Meares and Jimmy Lee.

She is survived by three daughters: Vickie Dowless, Shirlene Fields (Glenn), and Carolyn Mercer (Randy), all of Lumberton; five grandchildren: Angela Lee Prevatte, P.J. Meares, Cory Mercer, Cody Mercer, Michelle Davis, and Brittany Smith; three great-grandchildren: Alyssa Raven Prevatte, Gemma Noelle Prevatte, and Rylee Burnett; three sisters: Hazel Neal, Joann Meares, and Barbara Britt.

The family will receive friends prior to the service on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, from 1:00-2:00 PM at Floyd Mortuary & Crematory, Inc., 809 E. 5 ^th Street in Lumberton. Following the visitation, a funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM in the chapel. Burial will follow at Singletary Baptist Church Cemetery, 4061 Singletary Church Road in Lumberton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Singletary Baptist Church, 4061 Singletary Church Road, Lumberton, NC  28358.