It is with great sadness that the family of Jimmy Lawton Bowman announces his passing at the age of 85, on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. He passed away peacefully, with loved ones by his side, in their home of 59 years, located in the loving community of Rutland. Jimmy always wanted “I worked yesterday” engraved on his tombstone but was cheated by a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s. While the disease controlled the last few years, his life was defined by his selfless devotion to his family and his strong work ethic.
Jimmy was born in Abbeville, Georgia, on July 5, 1937, to the parents of John Ashley Bowman and Myrtice Irene Collins. Jimmy was the second of five siblings and is survived by his youngest sister, Sylvia Jackson, of Edison, Georgia. He moved to Macon with his family in 1949, when he was twelve years old. Jimmy attended Georgia Tech and Mercer University along with a brief period in the Army- National Guard. At Mercer University, he met his soul mate of 64 years, Murrell Ann Lipford also of Macon, Georgia. Jimmy and Murrell Ann were married in 1959 and have been best friends thereafter. In 1964, the young newlyweds moved to South Bibb County on family land. Their family grew over the next ten years to include three sons and one daughter. Jimmy found his career passion in the mid-1960’s and formed Bowman Electric Company in 1967. Jimmy was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and Liberty Church Macon. An outdoors man at heart, he loved hunting, fishing and was a diehard Ga. Tech Fan.
Jimmy Bowman is survived by his wife, Murrell Ann; and proud patriarch to Keith Bowman (Gina) of Plano, Texas; Laura Graves (Tim) of Macon, Georgia; Craig Bowman (Jodi) of Macon, Georgia; and Barry Bowman (Alicia) of Huntsville Alabama; eight grandchildren, Jenna Bowman Wells (Nick), Caitlyn Bowman Matias (Mike), Davis Bowman, Will Bowman, Evan Bowman, Cade Bowman, Anna Graves, and Maddie Bowman; and his great grandchildren, Grayson and Olivia Wells, and Ashella, Kali, and Mia Matias; and his trusting Labrador, Bo. He is preceded in death by his parents; his son, James Ernest Bowman; his great-grandson, Carter Wells; his sister, Barbara Malcom; his brother Donnie Bowman; his sister, Judy Crouch, and his two nieces, Dorothy "Dottie" Gail Crouch and Pam Jackson Davis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Liberty Church Macon. To honor Jimmy, we are holding a visitation to celebrate his life on Tuesday evening, May 16, 2023, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Chapel of Hart’s Mortuary at the Cupola, 6324 Peake Road, Macon. Funeral Services will be Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Liberty Church Macon, 6511 Houston Road, Macon Georgia. Graveside will immediately follow the service at the church cemetery.
Jimmy is lovingly remembered by all.
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