Arlene Fowler is a waitress at Merlotte's and friend to Sookie Stackhouse. She has two children, Coby and Lisa.

In the first season, we learn that Arlene, while not malicious, is the sort of person to take advantage of her friends' good nature. She constantly abuses her friendship with Sam by bending the rules at work. However, she is also shown to have a good heart as witnessed when she helped Terry through a flashback of his war days. Arlene is also revealed to be a serial bride, currently dating René Lenier. She is also shown to be rather racist towards vampires and shows her obvious disapproval for Sookie's budding relationship with Bill.

Later in the season, René proposes to her and she is thrilled to accept. She then wheedles an engagement party at Merlotte's out of Sam.