Dorothea Yvette Cowart

CLAXTON: Dorothea Yvette Cowart Few knew her first name was Dorothea. She was named after her paternal grandmother, Dorothea “Dot” Sapp Cowart originally from Bulloch County, wife of B.T. Cowart, Jr. of the Undine community, and most everybody just called her Vette. her maternal grandparents were Wallace and Thurla Jenkins Boyette of Tattnall County. Vette was the daughter of Benny and Yvonne Cowart, and she is survived by her longtime companion and best friend, Jeanna Shuman Daniel, as well as her loving brother, Barry and his husband, Jimmie, and she was exceptionally close to her many Eason and Anderson relatives. Yvette attended Pinewood Christian Academy and Claxton High School. She graduated from Claxton High in 1989 with honors and later attended Ogeechee Tech where she received her nursing license. Yvette had a real estate license from Ben Farmer Realty in Savannah, but she never pursued that avenue any further. Yvette worked as an LPN for Dr. David Scarboro in Claxton for some time, but ultimately landed in the ER at Evans Memorial for a number of years. Working nights and the ER for years resulted in burnout which led her to start her own business in lawn care. Yvette loved this period of her life as well, as she was able to unwind and destress while building numerous, lifelong friendships with clients. Now years of operating lawn equipment had taken a toll and she made a decision to return to school for a degree in radiology. Upon graduating, she took an X-ray technician position at Optim Health in Reidsville. To know Yvette was to love her, and she was loved by so many. How fortunate we were to have her. She was remarkable in her loyalty to her friendships and relationships. She was exceedingly bright, and she studied and worked diligently at everything she did. Yvette was blessed to have rare gifts of such deep loyalty and genuine caring, with empathy and a true love, and to be so freely giving of these gifts. This were exemplified through her chosen career of nursing where her knowledge and personality merged into this tremendous gift of giving and understanding that made her a naturally talented nurse and caregiver. Yvette loved animals, worked as a veterinary tech through much of her schooling, and she had a special love for Boxer Bulldogs. She loved her family and she loved her friends. She was pure of heart and Yvette would literally give the shirt off her back to anyone who needed it. She enjoyed nothing more than spending quality time with her family and friends. She loved good music, good company, good food and good people. There was not a malicious bone in her body and there was no dishonesty in her. If she told you something, you could count on it and count on her. Yvette began to suffer with some cognitive issues. Symptoms were very vague and difficult to pinpoint early on in the progression, but ultimately, she was diagnosed with early onset dementia/Alzheimers in the early 2020’s and this would ultimately be her undoing. So incredibly unfair and undeserving. As her brother, I cannot tell you how much I miss her already. 

We are going to celebrate Yvette's life on Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 2pm until 4pm at Tattnall Campground, 3769 Campground Road, Claxton, Georgia, 30417. Yvette would often decompress, parked at the campground, listening to her favorite gospel songs and singing along with anyone who would join her in her own little world. We’re going to share in her tradition one last time. You’re welcome to come join us.

Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements

“Our Family Serving Your Family”

Since 1917

(912) 739-3338

www.nesmithfuneralhome.com