Valda Dowd Prince

Valda Lee Dowd Bruner Prince of Metter passed away early Friday morning, September 22, 2023.   She was born to Roy Lee Dowd and Nellie Corene Bragdon Dowd in February 1936. They were living in Dublin, GA but moved to Candler County when she was an infant. Valda graduated from Metter High School in 1953 and moved to Savannah in 1954 to work for Union Camp Corp. She married William Lawton Bruner of Metter and operated a small in-home business to be with their three children throughout their school life.

In 1977, Pier 1 Imports opened a distribution center for all their stores in the Eastern U.S. Valda was their first employee and she remained there over 15 years as they grew and moved to the Georgia Ports Authority. Valda resigned and moved back to Metter and married James Earl Prince.

She was a charter member of Bible Baptist Church in Savannah and remained there 40+ years until she moved back to Metter.

The Metter Housing Authority was looking for a manager, Valda was offered the job, and she accepted. Chairman of the Board, Mrs. Evelyn Warren, Mayor Billy Trapnell, and a board of special local people, with, several HUD people, worked together to get a grant to modernize the houses and grounds of the Metter Housing Authority.

Valda felt honored to work with these great folk and when the job was completed, to celebrate the clean, and modern homes for those in need. She retired from the Housing Authority in 2003, and she and her brother, Hilton raised cows on the family farm until Hilton died on his birthday in 2012.

Valda was preceded in death by her husband, James Earl Prince, her parents, Roy Lee Dowd, and Nellie Corene Bragdon Dowd, three brothers, James E. Dowd (Myrle), Hilton (Shot) Dowd (Debbie),  Roy Clinton Dowd (Sandy) , and the father of her children, William Lawton Bruner (Annette), all of Metter, her paternal grandparents, William Charlie Dowd and Nancy J. Sweat Dowd of Wrightsville, GA, and her maternal grandparents, Cliff Bragdon and Selma Edenfield Bragdon of Metter.

She is survived by three children, Rebecca S. Bruner Thomas (Franklin), of Savannah, Michael Aaron Bruner (Judy) of Powder Springs, William Lloyd Bruner (Donna) of Allen, Texas; one brother Lehman Earl Dowd (Patty), of Metter; two step daughters Earlene Prince Scott (Kenny) of Metter, and Sherry Prince of South GA; four grandchildren, M. Wayne Bruner (Elizabeth) of Savannah, Caryn DiQuattro (Nathan) of Jacksonville, FL, Landon Bruner, and Dawton Bruner of Allen , Texas; several great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and special friends.

A brief graveside service will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Lake Church Cemetery with burial to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Valda would love remembrances to be sent to:

Faith Ministries Free Will Baptist Church

c/o Rev. Johnny Beasley

355 Aline Avenue Metter, GA 30439

Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.