John Nowlin

John Henry Nowlin, age 75, of Pearl passed away on Monday, May 21, 2018 at a local hospital. A Celebration of Life will be Friday, May 25, 2018 at 11:00am at Brandon First United Methodist Church with Rev. Kelly Pope and Rev. Mitchell Hedgepeth officiating. Interment will follow in Brandon Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Thursday, May 24, 2018 from 5:00pm till 8:00pm at Ott and Lee Funeral Home, Brandon and again Friday at the church starting at 10:00am until service time. He was born in San Antonio, TX on October 3, 1942 to the late John Henry Nowlin, Sr. and Ouida Merle Horn Nowlin. John had a Masters in Social Work, obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree from Baylor University and his Master’s Degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in Dallas, TX. He was the first Social Worker in the state of MS to open a private practice. He was a pitcher for Baylor University, a member of Brandon First United Methodist Church, loved to sing in the choir at church and loved to sing solos. John was an avid golfer, a true outdoorsman who loved to hunt, fish, camp, and loved to eat fried catfish.  He was a Captain in the USMC serving for 18 months in Vietnam. John devoted his life to helping others before helping himself. He is preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, W. Claire Smith Nowlin. He is survived by his two children, Damon Nowlin of Brandon, and Amy Dempsey (Martin) of Madison; one sister, Shirley Best of Corpus Christi, TX; eight grandchildren, Trace Moore, Caleb Moore, Addisson Moore, John David Nowlin, Claire Nowlin, Carsyn Nowlin, Jennifer Dempsey, and April Dempsey; three great-grandchildren, Corbit Bonner, Elowyn Bonner, and Roarke Thompson; and a host of other relatives and friends. Memorials may be made to the Brandon First United Methodist Church Choir, 205 Mary Ann Dr., Brandon, MS 39042.