Franklin Palmer Sowell, 75, of Tifton died Friday, November 21, 2008 at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 24, 2008, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton's First Baptist Church. Dr. Wayne Roe and Dr. W. Ches Smith, III will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Lee Sowell, Chuck Sowell, Gary Sowell, Kerry Conaway, Earl Thrift, Hayes Walz, Robbie Howell and Chris Howell will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be employees of Union Camp Corporation and the Frank Railey Sunday School Class of Tifton's First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 23, 2008, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Sowell was born on October 23, 1933 in Newington (Screven County) and was the son of John Evans Sowell and Floy Hodges Sowell, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one brother, John Edward Sowell; and one sister-in-law, Grace Sowell. He was retired from Union Camp Corporation and a member of Tifton's First Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the United States Navy.
Mr. Sowell is survived by his wife, Betty Catherine Howell Sowell of Tifton; two sons and daughters-in-law, Craig and Keetra Sowell of Tifton and Russell E. and Hope Sowell of Franklin; one brother, Charles Hamilton Sowell of Savannah; one sister-in-law, Charlotte Sowell of Savannah; five grandchildren, Catherine Sowell, Myles Sowell, Sara Sowell, Jacob Sowell and Anna Bay Sowell; and several nieces and nephews.