Billy Bowie, 67, passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2019, at Springhill Baptist in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 24, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Kimbro Funeral Home in Marks, MS. A Memorial Service honoring his life will be held on Monday, November 25, 2019 beginning 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Marks, MS. Interment will be held Friday, November 29, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Clarksdale, MS.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Betty Smith Bowie; son Rodney Bryant Bowie; granddaughter Vivian Rebecca Bowie all of Sherwood, Arkansas and sister Regenia Adams of Louisville, Mississippi.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and sister Betty Bowie Castilo Lance of Camden, Tennessee.
Billy was working as a telephone lineman when he was called to the music ministry in 1978. He served as the Minister of Music at Locke Station in Marks, Mississippi; Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Florence, Mississippi; Meadowood Baptist Church in Amory, Mississippi; First Baptist Church in Osceola, Arkansas; Michael Memorial Baptist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi; First Baptist Church in Louisville, Mississippi; and Woodlawn Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. He spent his life and his career living the example of Jesus's compassion, and his endeavors reached far beyond music to the true nature of ministry itself: showing others that they were loved.
His life is celebrated by many family and friends; too many to count and all close enough to call family.
The family requests that anyone who wishes to make donations in lieu of flowers, to send payments to any of the following organizations:
Mississippi Singing Churchmen
attn "Mississippi Singing Churchmen"
Mississippi Baptist Convention (Church Music Dept)
PO Box 530
Jackson, Mississippi 39205
St Jude's Children Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
Or any organization that researches cures for lung diseases