Angela MacDowell, the first wife of Frederick MacDowell and mother of Jeanie MacDowell, was a housewife deeply devoted to her daughter. An accomplished piano player herself, she delighted in giving Jeanie lessons and enthusiastically applauded her performances. Together with her husband, Angela was known for extreme generosity, often providing free medical care to those who could not afford it, which made the couple well-liked in their community.

She managed a fatal heart illness in secret, a condition that caused her to faint multiple times and required periods of hospice care. Despite hopes for recovery, she ultimately died from a heart attack while playing piano with her daughter.

Angela had long blonde hair and a kindhearted, compassionate nature, treating everyone with kindness. Her character reflected traits of a Southern Belle: she was religious, well-liked, and generous. Her marriage to Frederick, which began in childhood, was happy and fulfilling. Her death deeply affected her family, particularly Jeanie, and altered household dynamics.

After her passing, Frederick remarried Diana Johnson, who respected Angela's memory and understood that Frederick's love for his first wife endured.