Tommy Walter Cowart, 81

Tommy Walter Cowart, age 81, of Twin City, passed away Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at his home following an extended illness. On this exact date and in this same home, his father also passed away 60 years ago. Funeral services were held Saturday, July 5, at 2 p.m. at Chapman Funeral Home with Melissa Cown and Wade Williams officiating, with friends and family from 1 to 2 p.m. Interment followed at Bethel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Twin City. Family received friends Friday, July 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Chapman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Zachary Williams, Jakob Williams, Tony Cowart, Bubba Morgan, Timmy Bell, Donnie Alexander, Jeff Glover and Steven Waters

Tommy was born December 13, 1943, in Twin City, to the late Walter Thomas Cowart and Henrietta “Etta” Lewis Cowart Hall. Born at just over two pounds, Tommy quickly established much needed resiliency. His early years of education were at Emanuel County Institute and on the family farm, working the fields, livestock, and dairy. Tommy worked at Great Dane while sharpening the skills needed to become a certified welder and member of the Iron Workers Union, traveling to various locations to work, often with his camper in tow. He later worked at Plant Vogtle, often teaching welding classes to future tradesmen. Farm life was never far away as Tommy continued to bale hay, haul wheat straw, raise livestock and a variety of farm life ventures. His efforts with Colonial Forge and Cowart Iron Works would be an instrumental part of shaping his future as he went on to establish Cowart Steel Erectors in Stone Mountain, GA. There, Tommy and his wife, Sharon, built a 30+ year career in commercial steel erecting. They later returned to the family farm in Twin City, where Tommy’s love of farm life prompted him to also acquire Sandhill Farm in Candler County where he and Sharon would oversee 400+ beef cattle and a swine finishing operation for Orangeburg Foods, cycling 10,000+ hogs per year. During this time, Tommy and farm manager Leon Thompson, would receive the Candler County Conservationist of the Year Award for their efforts in protecting the natural resources of the area.

Through the years, Tommy enjoyed riding horses and motorcycles, and was #10 on the Swainsboro Raceway flat track. He and Sharon enjoyed spending time at Lake Sinclair with their family and traveling the U.S. to see their daughter, Melissa, compete in martial arts, even squeezing in a 5K race during a trip to Kona, Hawaii. Tommy cherished being Papa to his three grandchildren and always enjoyed hearing about their life. He took great pride in his 2003 anniversary edition Harley Davidson and his fully restored 1955 Chevy Bel Air that won multiple car show trophies. Tommy enjoyed driving the Kubota ATV over to the pond to feed the fish, watching Sharon catch fish, and of course eating them. In his later years, if he wasn’t working with the cows or horses, you would often find him listening to music in the garage or in a rocking chair watching the sunset at the family farm. Tommy appreciated the close friendships he shared through the years and delighted in large family gatherings with the people he loved. He made the most of every situation with his lighthearted antics, infectious smile, and kind spirit. Much like the way he left this world, Tommy was always thinking about the best and most creative way to accomplish a task. He was quite a character and, while his family often joked that he had “used up his nine lives a long time ago”, he would do anything he could to help someone. Most of all, Tommy loved his wife Sharon and the life they built together. He will be deeply missed and forever loved. Mr. Cowart is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Lewis Edward Cowart and Bennie “Billy” Wendell Cowart; and grandson-in-law, Brian Donald Thrasher.

Mr. Cowart is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sharon Lenore Cowart of Twin City; daughters, Amanda Williams (Wade) of Milledgeville and Melissa Cown (Lesley) of Macon; grandchildren, Kiely Danielle Thrasher of Warner Robins, Zachary Thomas Williams of Summertown and Jakob Harrison Williams of Milledgeville; sisters, Maryann Testone of Callahan, FL and Lynda Cowart Mitchell of Lyons; and extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org or to the Cemetery Fund at Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, c/o Mr. William Donaldson, 435 South Williams St. Metter, GA 30459.

Chapman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.