Agnes Cowart

Mary Agnes Wilbanks Cowart, 84, of Woodville, Texas, passed away January 15, 2022 at home surrounded by her loving family after a sudden illness. She was born April 4, 1937, in Eros, Louisiana to Webb Samuel Wilbanks and Orangie Cummings Wilbanks. She was born at home to a large, loving Christian family before moving to the big city of West Monroe, Louisiana. Her parents had 8 children, 2 who passed away at a young age. She was a servant of God through music from the age of 12 thru 84, with her last offering being January 2, 2022 before she had a fall in her home. She played for weddings, funerals, revivals, regular services for choirs, “singings”, tent meetings and also served as a Sunday School teacher.

Agnes grew up in Louisiana. She met her future husband when she was in high school and he was a college freshman. She happened to be riding to church and spotted a handsome young man walking down the street in front of her sister’s house. This began their courtship. As God’s plans unfolded, the couple’s love brought her back home and they married on September 28, 1957 and celebrated 63 years before his passing on October 5, 2020. They raised three daughters, Danna, Donna and Delana in Nederland, Texas where they saw all three girls earn college degrees. At one point, four of the family members attended Lamar University with both James and Agnes receiving degrees in real estate. Agnes also had a second career working for Sears and Roebuck for 14 years in the receiving department. She did all this while being a first-rate chef, room mom, seamstress and loving mother. In 1994, James retired and they moved in 1996 to Toledo Bend where they designed and built their own home. They resided there until 2009, when they moved to Woodville to be close to their daughter and son in law. They joined Campground Baptist Church where they remained active until both of their deaths. Up until a week before her passing, Agnes was studying the word during her morning devotion and learning more about the Lord each and every day. Her love of the Lord has influenced three generations of family to know and follow Him. When unable to attend church, she watched televised services.

Her daughters were able to follow her example of a God filled marriage, not by words, but by example. Some of her greatest joys were experimenting with recipes and sewing (clothes, curtains, bedspreads and furniture upholstery). Agnes will be greatly missed by her daughters who could bend her ear multiple times a day times three girls. She will be missed on Earth but sought in Heaven.

She is survived by her three daughters and their families: Danna & Herman McAnelly, daughter Morgan and husband Jarret Cotton, Donna & Tim Powell, son Josh Powell and his children Charlotte and James, Delana & Chip Keenan, daughter Jessica and husband Ramien Jafari-Rouhani and their children, Samuel, Benjamin, Annalyse and Lukas.  She is survived by two brothers, Johnny Wilbanks and Jerry Wilbanks, and a host of nieces and nephews. 

A graveside service will be held at Campground Cemetery in Woodville on Monday, January 17, 2022 at 2pm.

Special thanks to Olive Branch Hospice for the care and service to both of our parents.

If one has a desire to donate in our mom’s name, please consider the Gideons International or Lottie Moon Offering.

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