Lowell Morris Downing, Jr., 77, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Friday, May 3, 2019, at Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 4 PM, Sunday, May 5, 2019, at First Baptist Church in Fitzgerald, with the Rev. Dr. Jerry Mahan officiating. Lee Liles will give the eulogy. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Fitzgerald. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the sanctuary on Sunday.
Mr. Downing was born April 3, 1942, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to the late Lowell Morris & Clarice Avagane Stuart Downing. He was a 1960 honor graduate of Fitzgerald High School and earned his Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech. He worked for Goodyear in Akron, Ohio and Jackson, Michigan. Mr. Downing returned to Fitzgerald in 1968 to run the family business, Lowell Packing Company, Inc., with his father, Lowell Downing. He served two terms as President of the Georgia Independent Meat Packers Association and served as President of the Southeastern Meat Association. He was a member and chairman of the Colony Bank Holding Company Board (Colony Bankcorp) and currently held the title of Director Emeritus. He was a trustee on the Georgia Agritrust Board, and was a past member of Forward Fitzgerald and the Fitzgerald Civic Corporation. An avid pilot, Mr. Downing love boating and flying. He held his private pilot’s license and taught his son Scott how to fly. He was a member of the Southeastern Bonanza Society and the American Bonanza Society. He loved to bird hunt, both ducks and doves. He enjoyed flying to NASCAR races and particularly cheering for the Georgia boys, Bill Elliott and later Chase Elliott. He loved the lake and the pine trees of the farm and was happiest while running over scrub oaks on the bulldozer. Mr. Downing was a member of First Baptist Church of Fitzgerald.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Bonnie Downing of Fitzgerald; children: Robert Eric Downing & Shelli of Monroe, Corinne Downing Gillis of Bryan, Texas, and Scott Lowell Downing & Darchelle of Fitzgerald; grandchildren: John Wesley Griffin & Lindsey, Kristen Taylor Manis, Eric William Downing, Kaitlyn Nicole Manis, Wyatt Lowell Downing, and Zachary Oliver Downing; a great-grandchild, Liam Morris Griffin; a brother, Donald Stuart Downing & Christi of Atlanta; one niece, Mary Lowell Pettit & Gil of Atlanta; and a great-nephew, William Downing Pettit.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to First Baptist Church, P O Box 367, Fitzgerald, GA 31750 or to Dorminy Medical Center Foundation, P O Box 1447, Fitzgerald GA 31750.