James “Jubb" Washington Fowler, 68, “RAN into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” on Sat., July 11, 2020, according to his wife, Tracy Alexander Fowler, who described James as her “loving husband and spiritual partner in the Christian faith of 33 years.”
“He fought valiantly for life as anyone who knew James would imagine,” she wrote in his obituary. “While it may seem that death won, we know beyond any doubt that the victory is his to be in the presence of the Lord.”
James was born in Baltimore, MD, during the time his father, Max America Fowler, served in the U.S. Air Force and was married to James’ mother, Thelma Bishop Fowler. James (born Sept. 06, 1951) was two years and 10 months old when his father died (July 25, 1954). James Wallace later became James’ stepfather.
From James’ obituary:
“James was a devoted Christian and member of Taylors First Baptist Church where he enjoyed Bible Study with The Link Life Group. He was a Clemson University graduate and loved cheering on the Tigers. He also found great joy working alongside his family at Fowler Interiors and endeared himself to many clients through the years. James was an incredibly funny, loving, and loyal son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and friend to many.
“Additional survivors include sons, Nathaniel Max Fowler, Dustin Alexander Fowler and partner, Jamie Lipgens, all of Greenville; brother, Lyndell Fowler and wife, Ann of Easley; sister, Gail Byrd and husband, Ronny of Myrtle Beach; nieces and nephews, Kimberly Fowler Burns and husband, Mike, Brian Fowler and wife, Becky, McKenzie Taylor and husband, Ryne, Morgan Byrd and wife, Alli; and first wife Nancy Fowler.”
James lay in state Wednesday, July 15, at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown from 3:00 until 7:00 pm for viewing and for visitors to leave notes of condolences for his family. Due to CDC social distancing guidelines, there was no traditional visitation.
The funeral was held on Thurs., July 16, at 3:00 pm at Taylors First Baptist Church. Burial followed at Enoree Baptist Church Cemetery, where his family’s Christian heritage dates back to his great-great-great-grandfather, circa 1799-1883. Social distancing guidelines were followed and masks were encouraged.
Ms. Ellen Shearer, keyboardist, played “This Is My Story” and other hymns for the service prelude.
Ms. McKenzie Taylor (vocalist) and Mr. Morgan Byrd (guitarist and vocalist), James’ niece and nephew, sang and played “How Great Thou Art” as a processional hymn.
As the funeral began, the family of the deceased entered and sat as the audience stood. Jerry Long, pastoral care minister at Taylors First Baptist, welcomed attendees and said that Tracy had asked if the family might stand, turn, and face the audience to acknowledge the congregation because a time of greeting had been omitted due to coronavirus precautions.
The family — most of them were masked — stood and turned to view the audience (most were masked). Silence prevailed as the family scanned congregants. Perhaps the audience should have applauded, but the somber occasion and formality of the church seemed to restrain such an outward expression of sympathy.
“We wish James had survived COVID,” Long said, adding that James was in heaven with ultimate healing. “Tracy demonstrated strength and faith.”
Long read Matt. 11:28-30:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
He also read Isaiah 43:1-3:
“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
“For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.”
“‘Through’ is the most important word there,” Long said. He prayed, “Thank you for James Fowler’s life. You’ve chosen to bring him home to be with you.”
Sharon Davis Wells, a family friend, said, “I have never seen so many Christians rallying together in support [of James during his battle against COVID].”
She said of James’ family, “They decided they were going to love me, no matter what. James was funny, quick-witted, and loved Jesus. His walk with the Lord was real. … Jubb adored his bride. Jubb and Tracy were perfect together.”
Wells defined “love” as “putting the other person’s spiritual interest at heart.”
“Jubb lived his life in love,” she said. “He also loved the boys: Nathan, Dustin, and Jamie. … He kept me in stitches most of the time. Jubb was a Jesus lover. … the most content and happy man I’ve known.”
Wells comment on James’ high measure of integrity and tenacity.
“No pain can last forever for those of us who love the Lord,” she said.
She read Isaiah 40:30-31:
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
“Jubb has been renewed, restored,” Wells said.
The Rev. Dale Sutton, a former pastor to James and Tracy Fowler when they attended Overbrook Baptist Church, spoke.
“James believed in God,” he said. “He believed in Jesus. … I served as his pastor and got to know him.”
Sutton told of James going with him to the “Northern Cheyenne Reservation”on a mission trip in Montana.
“We traveled through ‘Jim Town.’” Suttons said. “Jim [James] was fascinated. … Jim relished being on the front line of spiritual warfare, witnessing, sharing. … Jim Fowler wanted to see the American Church out of its doors. He pushed. … He thought we put God in a box.”
Sutton told of James bringing his motorcycle inside Overbrook Baptist’s sanctuary during Bible School. The pastor wanted James to crank the cycle indoors, but James would not do that.
McKenzie Taylor and Morgan Byrd sang “10,000 Reasons.”
The Rev. Ronny Byrd, James’ brother-in-law and lead pastor at Palmetto Shores Church in Myrtle Beach, SC, delivered the eulogy, telling of his own “bittersweet emotions.”
“Thank you, Taylors First Baptist, for pouring out your love,” he said. “James grew up loving cars, especially race cars. He put model cars together. … James could draw, was a photographer; he could have done anything he wanted to do vocationally. .. He lived life on the edge.”
Byrd told of James’ success as a “master negotiator” when James worked in the insurance settlement arena. (For many James and Tracy operated their business, Fowler Interiors. Their sons also worked with them. Fowler Interiors in Greenville, SC, is still operating. Tracy and her sons still offer their design services.)
He told about being with James as James stood on a dock in the Bahamas and playfully cast with a small Zebco reel. Byrd saw a large dorsal fin. James excitedly put cut bait on his line and cast toward the huge shark. He shark took the bait, and James slowly brought the fish in close. Byrd, seeing the danger, took out a pocketknife and cut the line.
James looked at Byrd and said, “Thanks, Brother-in-law. You probably saved my life.”
The audience laughed.
“God gave us memory, to treasure thoughts of people we’ve known,” he said.
He read James 4:14: “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
Byrd said that James was in California on a mountainside during midlife and “God shook him.” James told Byrd that God said to him, “What are you doing? Aren’t you tired of running?”
“In California, James turned his life to God,” Byrd said. “He gave his life to Jesus. … At that moment, all of life changed for James.”
There are two types of people: people living to die, and people who are dying to live, Byrd said.
He read:
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
“For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow” (Job 8:9).
This world is a temporary residence, Byrd said, and this world is not your home. We should fix our lives on things not seen. He referred to Hebrews 11, saying, God has prepared a city for believers.
“Life in not over for us,” Byrd said. “God has left us here for a purpose. Don’t run from Jesus. Run toward him. … Trust God’s Word. He’s going to give you the strength … Accept the grace and mercy to move forward … let Him restore your soul. … We move forward. We have to. I challenge you to look up. Tap into that amazing grace that can only come from God. … His grace is amazing grace.
“My brother-in-law was a great friend. He believed in Jesus, repented, turned his life over to Jesus.”
He told of Tracy’s last visit with James, who was unconscious.
“Last Saturday afternoon, Tracy was allowed to come into the room, and she spent an hour with James,” Byrd said.
Tracy realized the inevitable.
Byrd said, “She put her face near to his and said, “Run, James, run!”
“They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary,” Byrd said.
McKenzie Taylor and Morgan Byrd sang “Amazing Grace.”
The Rev. Byrd closed in prayer, and the audience stood as the family exited the sanctuary.
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