James Willis Cowart

James Willis Cowart, 85, of Woodville, Texas, passed away October 5th, 2020 at home surrounded by his loving family after a lengthy illness.  He was born January 21, 1935, in Chatham, Louisiana.  His parents were Robert Thomas Cowart and Clyde Hazel Higgins Cowart.  He had four siblings and was actually a twin, with Jesse not surviving birth.  He had two years of college behind him prior to entering the military.  He served in the Army where he received an honorable discharge in 1957.  He was an exceptional athlete during his school years, as well as throughout his military career.  His favorite sports were baseball and basketball. 

James grew up in Louisiana where he eventually met the love of his life, Agnes Wilbanks.  They dated throughout his military service with him making as many trips home as he could to court her.  After his discharge, James moved to southeast Texas where he was employed as a laboratory specialist for 37 years at a local refinery.  James and Agnes married September 28, 1957 and recently celebrated their 63rd anniversary.  They raised their three daughters, Danna, Donna and Delana in Nederland, Texas where their dream of all three girls getting a college degree came to fruition.

At one point, four of the family members were attending college at the same time and James and Agnes both received a real estate license. 

In 1994 James retired.  Two years later, in 1996, James and Agnes moved to Toledo Bend Lake and designed and built their home.  Many fun and memorable gatherings with kids and grandkids were held.    Both served in the local church and community in many ways.  James served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and in other roles that reflected his love of missions.  In 2009, they moved to Woodville to be near their daughter and son-in-law. 

They joined Campground Baptist Church and continued acts of service there, with James performing deacon duties as long as he was able. 

Agnes and his girls can attest to his wonderful sense of humor.  James used jokes, funny stories, and magic tricks to bring a smile to everyone he met, including the hospital and hospice staff.  This continued with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  James will be missed for his humor and wit, but especially for being such a loving, caring husband and father, grandfather and great grandfather. 

James loved and served the Lord.  He has influenced three generations of family to know and follow the Lord.  As his health failed, James and Agnes continued Bible study daily at home and watched televised services to honor the Father.  He continued to model a servant’s attitude for his family.

He is survived by his loving wife, Agnes Cowart; his three daughters and their husbands, Danna and Herman McAnelly, Donna and Tim Powell, Delana and Chip Keenan; his granddaughter Jessica (daughter of Delana) and her husband Ramien Jafari-Rouhani and their children Sam, Anna, Ben and Lukas; his grandson Josh(son of Donna) and his wife Ashlee Powell and their children Charlotte and James; and Morgan(daughter of Danna) and her husband Jarret Cotton.  He is survived by one sibling, Jewel Harvey and a host of nieces and nephews.

A family graveside service will be held at Campground Cemetery in Woodville on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at 1100 am.

Special thanks to Olive Branch Hospice for the continued care and service.

If one has a desire to donate in Dad’s honor, he was an ardent supporter of spreading God’s Word, so Gideons International is a wonderful organization.

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