Mr. Alton “Sonny” Jowers, Jr., age 48, son of Alton Gene Jowers, Sr. (deceased) and Patricia Janette (Clifton) Jowers passed away early on Sunday, October 4, 2020, in Brownsville, TN. Funeral Services will be held at the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville, TN, on Thursday, October 8, 2020, at 6:00 PM with Bro. Ralph Brown officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2020, from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home.
Sonny grew up in Brownsville and went on to attend Lambuth University for his bachelors degree and then to Middle Tennessee State University for his masters degree in English. He spent over 20 years as an English professor at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, NY. Sonny loved music, literature, theatre and movies, and he shared his passion for the arts with hundreds of the students whose lives he touched.
A quote from one of Sonny’s favorite poems by William Butler Keats said, “Think where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends,” and nothing sums up Sonny’s life better. His circle of friends was far-reaching and his impact leaves a cornucopia of beautiful memories for them all.
He is survived by his two children, Tiger Lily Imogene and Phoenix Alton Jowers, he had with Chenny Hicks of Waterloo, NY. The rest of his loving family includes his mother, Patricia Janette Jowers; sister, Angela “Angie” Kay Jowers; Aunt Joyce White (Robert), Aunt Patsy Clifton (Thurmond “Buddy” deceased; Uncle Gerald (Sandy deceased) Clifton; Aunt Lois Marie “Pagey” Clifton Howell (deceased); Uncle Hack (Lanell) Clifton; cousins David Howell, Josh Howell, Gary Emerson, Michelle Emerson, Kelly, Gary and Michael Clifton, Melanie Parham, Teresa Whitley Evans and many others.
Gifts in his memory can be sent to http://gf.me./u/y3xf7u for Tiger Lily’s and Phoenix’s college education. All services and arrangements are under the direction of the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville, TN.