John Richard "J. R." Rowe, 63, of Tifton passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2003, at Tift Regional Medical Center. His funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 15, 2003, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Mike Hobbs and the Rev. Calvin Bobo officiating. Mr. Rowe was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Moody Huggins, Donald Adcock, Grady Thompson, Don Sumner, harry Doss and Vick Stone served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Steve Edenfield, Sonny Johnson, John Sinkhorn, James Edenfield, Hugh Webb, Randall Simpson and Sam Funfrock.
Born October 7, 1939, in Alapaha (Berrien County), Mr. Rowe was the son of the late Grifford Rowe and Maude Harper Rowe. Before retiring, he was a painter; and he also served on the Tift County Board of Commissioners. He was a veteran of the United States Army; and he was of the Baptist faith.
Mr. Rowe is survived by his wife, Laura Lavonne Powers Rowe of Tifton; three sons and daughters-in-law, Julian and Brenda Rowe, David and Connie Rowe and Randall and Andrea Rowe, all of Tifton; one daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Jackie Edenfield of Tifton; one brother, Buck Rowe of Nashville; one sister, Stella Nexon of Ocilla; seven grandchildren, James Ricky Dorden, Brittany Evonne Rowe, Marissa Lynne Rowe, Whitney Renee Rowe, Jill Edenfield, Jeri Lynn Pickle and Elizabeth Hope Davis; and three great-grandchildren, Cody Allen Fuller, Tracey Edenfield and Danielle Edenfield.