Everette Wayne Bowie, of Olive Branch, MS, died on February 27, 2015, at the age of 88. He was born in McCool, MS, on March 8, 1926, where he lived until entering the Navy after graduation from McCool High School. He served as a medical corpsman at Camp Lejeune, NC, where he spent most of his term attending a famous burn case. Upon discharge, he entered pharmacy school at Ole Miss and married Inez, his "bride," as he called her. He began his practice in Memphis at Methodist Hospital in 1950 but a year later was recalled to the Navy where he served at Bainbridge Naval Station in MD to direct the repurposing of a dilapidated building Into a pharmacy, ER, and 90-bed ward on the base that was reopened as a boot camp following its closure after WWII. In 1952, he returned to Memphis to work at Walgreens and later established his own pharmacy, Bowie Drug Store. When it closed, he worked at Crooks Pharmacy where he became the first non-owner president of the Memphis and Shelby County Pharmaceutical Society. As president, he convinced South Central Bell to change the Yellow Pages listing from "Druggists" to "Pharmacists." The Society recognized him in 1966 for outstanding service to the profession. In 1973, Albert Crook moved his store to Southaven, MS, to become the first pharmacy in the small town. There Mr. Bowie became active in the Mississippi Pharmaceutical Association, chaired District 1, and was selected by the Ole Miss School of Pharmacy Dean to be one of fifteen charter preceptors teaching practical aspects of pharmacy to graduating seniors, and was selected as the first Preceptor of the Year. He later opened his own store. State Line Apothecary. In 1982 he was awarded the A. H. Robbins Companys Bowl of Hygeia award, an annual honor given to one pharmacist in each state for a career of community service. He retired in 1992. Everette believed in community service. In 1966, he was honored by the Memphis PTA with a lifetime membership for outstanding service as president and keeping order as busing began. In 1967 he began three years of service on the Southwest Area Advisory Council for Memphis City Schools, the last as president, where he authored resolutions to educate pregnant girls and to establish women's sports programs in high schools. In 1975 the American Cancer Society
recognized him for organizing, running, and decentralizing chapters in fledgling DeSoto County. He has also been active in his neighborhood associations, especially Wedgewood, where he served on the Board of Directors in several capacities Including Executive Director, represented residents on zoning Issues, and wrote the community newsletter. At Olive Grove Terrace, his most recent residence, he has chaired the Residents' Council and authored a column in the facility's newsletter. The family will gather with family and friends on Thursday, March 5, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. and the funeral services will be on Friday, March 5, at 2 p.m. at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, followed by interment at Memorial Park. Everette was preceded In death by his wife of 64 34 years, Inez Bowie, April 24, 2012. He is survived by his daughters Janis (Ronald) Risley of Memphis, TN, and Cheryl Cavins, of Olive Branch, MS; brother, Guy Bowie of Gulfport, MS; sisters. Ruby Jones of Baton Rouge, LA, and Shirley (Douglas) Perez of Pascagoula, MS; grandchildren, Jason Risley of Memphis, TN. and Jennifer (Billy) Cahoon of Richmond, VA; and many other close family and friends. Memorials in his honor may be sent to Forever Young Senior Veterans Wish or Getwell Road United Methodist Church. Memphis Funeral Home (Published in The Commercial Appeal on Mar. 4, 2015)