Joan Ann Brothers Bowen

Joan Ann Brothers Bowen (1947-2025) Joan Ann Brothers Bowen, 78, of Mableton, Georgia passed peacefully among family on November 23, 2025. Joan was born in Albertville, Alabama in 1947, the first child of Troy Franklin and Winnie Irene (Collier) Brothers. She was raised on a modest family farm in the community of Sardis, Alabama, graduating from Sardis High School in 1965. She married James L. Bowen in 1967 and to the couple were born two sons, Neil Justin and Nathan James. Hardworking and fiercely independent, she worked full-time in a variety of professions, attended Snead College and earned a Masters Degree from the University of Alabama, while she closely kept to the interest and welfare of her children. Joan was an idealist, but she was realistic and pragmatic in all she did. After family and pets, her greatest passions were for bargain hunting and finding overlooked treasures, for social change and for Democratic party politics at local, state and national levels. She worked in campaigns for Alabama Senator Howell Heflin; and organized state-wide efforts in Alabama for the 1980 decennial federal census and for the 1987 presidential campaign of Gary Hart; serving later in the office of Georgia Representative John Lewis in the 1990’s. She worked for many years for the Alabama Farm Bureau and closed her working career as founder of Strategic Advantage, an independent consulting firm. She worked for more than 20 years to design and fund youth programs for branches of the Atlanta YMCA. It was important for her to contribute to the success of future generations and through this work, she did just that for countless young people. Family, which included several pets, was her first and most deeply held passion. She loved to teach her dogs new tricks and had the patience of Job with them. With family, especially at holiday gatherings, she delighted in expressing her whimsical side by guiding sing-along for the younger ones, creating playful banter among the family’s football fans (a die-hard Auburn fan, despite her degree from the University of Alabama), crafting nutcracker figures and wearing reindeer antlers. Following the death of her father, discovery of letters written between her parents brought new passion for a better understanding of her own roots in the heart and soul of a soldier’s family and in an unpretentious, hardworking farm life. This she relentlessly pursued and documented, leaving her family with that typically Joan idealistic, yet practical and accurate record of her father’s service to his country and his family. Because of her love and devotion in this project, she enriched our family with a deeper appreciation of his character and the man he was. In honor of her love of animals and her passion to improve the lives of a younger generation, in lieu of flowers, please donate to: Atlanta Humane Society: 1551 Perry Blvd., NW – Atlanta, GA 30318 Metro Atlanta YMCA: 569 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, NW- Atlanta, GA 30314 Survived by: Two sons, Neil Bowen of Austell, GA and Nathan Bowen (Annemarie) of Powder Springs, GA, 4 grandchildren, Willem Van Rees, (Iris) of the Netherlands, Thij Bowen of the Netherlands, Justin Bowen and Irene Bowen, both of Powder Springs, GA, One sister, Brenda Milam (Cecil) of Mableton, GA and one brother, Roger Brothers (Donna) of West Blocton, AL. Several nieces and nephews and cousins. Preceded in death by her parents, Troy and Irene Brothers. A celebration of life will be Friday November 28, with visitation at 1:00 and service at 2:00 at Etowah Memorial Chapel, Sardis, Alabama. Interment at Hillcrest Cemetery (all are welcome to the graveside) Arrangements Entrusted to Etowah Memorial Chapel.

Joan Ann Brothers Bowen

September 14, 1947 - November 23, 2025