Dee Dowling & Mark Hammond

February 2025 Issue

by Lesley Kyle
Photography by Cassidy Dunn Photography

Sometimes two people are just meant to be together.

Mark Hammond and Deanna (Dee) Dowling met unconventionally. A chance meeting in Six Oaks Cemetery in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island would change their lives in ways that neither understood at the time. That moment led Mark and Dee to not only discover how many things they had in common, but also how their relationship was almost preordained.

Mark’s wife, Debbie, passed away after a brief illness in June 2021. While visiting Debbie’s grave several months later, Mark spotted a woman at a nearby burial site who looked familiar to him. It was Dee, whose husband, Jack, passed away in October 2021. Mark approached her, recognized her, and offered to help her through the grieving process. Mark and Dee were acquaintances who shared friends, and both were members of the Sea Pines Country Club. Because Dee did not want Mark to relive the recent passing of his wife, she politely declined his offer. Mark gave Dee his phone number anyway.

After Debbie’s passing, Mark enjoyed helping people who were suffering from loss. Mark wanted to give Dee hope for the future. “We may be older now, and though it won’t be like it was before, we can still find love,” he said.

Dee later visited a Sunday service at Hilton Head Community Church. The pastor instructed the congregation to greet those seated around them, and Mark was surprised to find Dee sitting alone directly behind him. Turning to a friend, Mark said, “I need to go sit with her,” and he did. The meaningful worship service continued somewhat serendipitously with a sermon on grief and loss. When the service concluded, Mark asked Dee if she planned to return to church. “I think I got the message,” smiled Dee. “And yes, I’m coming back next Sunday.” They continued to meet casually at church for another month.

Meanwhile, as a long-time resident of Hilton Head, Mark had lots to keep him busy and no interest in dating. In fact, at a New Year’s Day party, Mark joked with friends about his confirmed bachelor status. “I’m thinking of dating another woman this year,” laughed Mark with an eye roll. Playing along, his friends offered to compile a list of eligible single ladies for Mark to consider. Serendipitously, the only name on the list was Dee Dowling. His friends knew Mark and Dee had similar personalities and shared friends from Sea Pines Country Club.

Mark and Dee began seeing each other and had only gone on a few dates when Dee was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Her treatment took place in Atlanta. Dee didn’t want to put Mark through the pain of watching her undergo treatment, even though Mark offered his full support. Dee declined and kept him at arm’s length to protect his feelings. However, the two stayed in touch and continued to learn more about each other—like the fact that Mark’s wife and Dee’s husband had the same birthday, and Dee’s birthday is the same as Mark’s mother’s birthday. Both Mark and Dee have two kids and four grandkids residing in Atlanta. Both were raised on farms in poor, small Midwestern towns. Mark’s late wife’s father owned an HVAC company where Mark worked during college. As fate would have it, Dee and her late husband also owned an HVAC company. And if those coincidences weren’t enough, Dee is a retired surgical nurse (and kindergarten teacher), and Mark’s son is a surgeon.

After finishing treatment and being declared cancer-free, Dee reconnected with Mark in person. Both had large homes and were looking to downsize to townhomes. Dee found a listing and knew it would be perfect for her. Her realtor told her he knew of someone who was also interested in the home. Of course, that someone was Mark! “You can’t bid against me,” Dee warned Mark. Mark heeded her words, and Dee purchased the townhome.

Now, after 2.5 years, Dee and Mark know they are meant to be together. They talk about each other’s spouses every day and reside in the townhome Dee purchased. Mark and Dee exchanged rings and became engaged this past December. They have their own and shared friends, love to travel, and do many fun things together.

“It’s never too late to love again,” said Dee. “Be brave enough to love again, put yourself out there, and be open to it.” Sometimes love finds you when—or where— you least expect it.

 

Up Close:

Fun Fact: Both Mark and Dee were previously married to their late spouses for 48 years.
Destiny Strikes Again: Work led Mark and Dee and their late spouses to live in Minneapolis at the same time!

Hometowns: Lawrence, Indiana (Mark) and Lewistown, Illinois (Dee)

Favorite things: Mark loves how sweet, kind, and funny Dee is.
 Dee loves Mark’s humor and outgoing personality.



Next trip: To California to visit close friends whom they see twice a year.