Mr. and Mrs. James Sparks of Aiken, S.C., announce the engagement of their daughter, Sara Ashley Sparks of Grayson, Ga., to James Daniel Dowdy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marty Dowdy of Greensboro, Ga.
    The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mrs. Monteen Martin and the late Franklin D. Martin of Mystic, Ga., and the Rev. and Mrs. Donald James Sparks Sr. of Portal, Ga. Sara is a 2007 graduate of South Aiken High School and a 2011 graduate of Clemson University, where she received a Bachelor of Science. In 2013, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a Master of Science. She is employed by Thermo Pac, LLC.
    The groom-elect is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Terry of Athens, Ga., and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dowdy of Greensboro. He is a 2007 graduate of Nathanael Greene Academy and a 2011 graduate of the University of Georgia, where he received a Bachelor of Arts. He is employed by Federated Insurance.
    The couple plans to wed on August 16, 2014, at 5 p.m. at the St. John’s United Methodist Church in Aiken.