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Writer
Calls E. P. Jowers "Man
of Character" (NOTE) The Rev. E. P. Jowers, 1868-1944, was a popular Holiness Baptist, minister in the Coffee County area for many years. Born at Big Wheel, he was the son of Eli Jowers. It is said that his mother swapped her wedding gown, for 490 acres of land many years ago. A daughter, Mrs. Dewey Fletcher recalls making many trips with him and a sister, Mrs. Henry Harper. They would travel by train, and then go by horse and buggy to preach and sing the gospel message. Mrs. Lera Parker Vanvert, a former Douglas resident, now of Tallahassee, Fla., has written the following article about the Rev. Jowers. She entitles it "Character.") CHARACTER When
I think on the word Character, and the qualities which should be contained
in a virtuous character-grace, courage, strength, thoughtfulness,
intelligence, balance, compassion, integrity, and wisdom enter my mind. The
one quality which I feel must be present in the personality of any person
admired by others is the ability to be humble.
Christ possessed all of these traits-and more.
The new testament is a constant everlasting record of the
perfection, found in every word He said, or deed He did.
Christ's character could never be doubted or questioned. His
flawless example was set down for us to pattern after as Christians.
This goal leaves no room or time for thoughts of self.
We must constantly think our example before others as Christians.
In Proverbs, we find a verse which, if taken to heart and used as a
motto, sets us on, a chartered course toward Christ and His perfection
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving
favor rather than silver or gold." *
* * SPEAKING
of character, "I
know that most of us have an "Unforgettable Character," one
who’s memory is outstanding in our thoughts.
I want to take this opportunity to tell you about my most
unforgettable character. My
first recollection of him was in the late 20's or early 30's. He was a
tall dark man about 6’ 2” tall, weighing about 230. He wore a small
black mustache, a white shirt and dark trousers and he traveled via a
horse and buggy. He was a Baptist minister named Esterlee Jowers. His
wife's name was Mary. Many
is the time I remembered him visiting our home.
When we would see him driving up the lane, our hearts would beat
with joy. Our father would send someone to care for his horse and be and
mother would go out to greet him with a smile on their faces. It was
almost as if royalty came to our home.
I was a small child, but when I would see him getting his great
body out of the buggy and see him lumbering up the steps, I would feel so
happy inside knowing that we would all have a very happy day. The best food was prepared, and he and my parents would
linger at the dining table and talk.
We children mostly listened. Sometimes
Mary came with him. She was
of small stature and an aroma of kindness walked with her and enveloped
her wherever she went. Esterlee
traveled from church to church preaching, most times spending the night
with some of the church members. Times were hard back then, but he was
never called to conduct a funeral, to perform a wedding, or hold a service
that he did not go, He never failed, come sleet or rain and would get all
times during the night to go to people who needed him. Whether it be
sickness or death-or any kind of trouble-he was there. One day Mary became ill and died. I was at the funeral along with my family at the little country church. The auditorium was packed. People were there from miles around, men women, and children, many with babies in their arms. One could look out he window and see all kinds of vehicles under the oak trees-mules and wagons, horses and buggies, cars and trucks. After
the pastor finished preaching Mary's funeral.
Esterlee lumbered up from where A hush came over the church. You could almost hear a pin drop. It seemed that even the babies stopped fretting, as he told of his life with Mary, you could, see them on their wedding day, when their first child was born. You could see them, a fine young man and a beautiful girl waling down the road of life together-trough posterity, hunger, and even the death of a son *
* * I’VE
NEVER experienced anything like it. During
his lifetime, nor since his death I have never heard anyone say aught
against his name. He was not a man of wealth in worldly things, but his
storehouse of wealth was in heaven.
His life was devoted to preaching the gospel and making others
happy. His prayer in the morning he was that he wanted grace for the day, that he wanted his words seasoned with grace converting hearers. He would say “let my words be as apples of gold, in pictures of silver.” This last was derived from proverbs which reads, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. This information provided by Lera Parker VanZant, daughter of Sylvania Jowers and Zenas Parker, granddaughter of Eli Jowers. |
| Note: Estalee Patterson Jowers was the son of Eli Jowers and his wife, Mary Jane Barrentine. Estalee's wife was Mary Lankford, daughter of James Lankford and Mary Ricketson Jowers. Estalee and Mary are both buried at New Hope Baptist Church, Ambrose, Coffee Cty. Ga. |
