G. Jackson Howorth

Family-Placed Death Notice

G. JACKSON HOWORTH Mr. G. Jackson Howorth, age 83, of Gainesville, passed Sunday, June 19, 2005 at his home. He was born April 9, 1922 in St. Joseph, Michigan to Earl and Winifred Howorth and is survived by a twin sister, Betty Morgan of Lakes of the Four Seasons, Indiana sister Barbara Sailor of Homewood, Illnois and a brother, Donald of Gary, Indiana. Jack grew up in Hobart, Indiana, and in High School played drums in Vincent D. Ravelli's National Champion concert band. He attended Western Kentucky Teachers College in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 1943, he enlisted in the Military Intelligence Branch of the U.S. Army translating code from enemy countries. He was stationed at Vinton Hill Farms in Virginia for early training and then shipped out to Eritrea, Africa. When he was honorably discharge in 1946. He proceeded to New York City and enrolled at the Julliard School of Music to study timpani and percussion with Saul Goodman from the New York Philharmonic. He graduated from Julliard in June of 1950 and married Patricia J. Branigan of Palisades, New Jersey on June 3. He signed a contract for the Erie Philharmonic under the direction of Fritz Mahler the nephew of Gustav Mahler, the composer. After finishing the season with the Erie Philharmonic, Jack was invited to teach timpani at Indiana University in Bloomington. Henry Sopkin, conductor of the Atlanta Symphony contracted him next to play timpani in September 1951. In 1954 he took a part-time job with Liberty Life Insurance Co. out of Greenville, SC and was sent to Purdue University's Insurance Marketing Institute. By 1956, he had become leading salesman of Liberty Life and enjoyed 31 years in this career. In 1958 he became a member of the Million Dollar Round Table and later a life member of that organization. He was also Past President of the Atlanta Life Underwriters. He retired from Liberty Life, in 1987, built a home on Lake Lanier, joined the Gainesville Life Underwriters Association, played timpani in the Gainesville Symphony and enjoyed water skiing and fishing. He and his wife traveled overseas with the Friendship Force of Atlanta and made many lasting friends. Gradually he became more and more interested in the PRO MUSICA Chamber Music Society founded in 1950 by Maude Martin and became it's Executive Director. His motto is "We bring Carnegie Hall" to Gainesville. The low ticket prices of his concerts give families an opportunity to enjoy the best of classical music. He has planned the 2005-2006 Concert Series for your enjoyment and his board members will make this Season another great-success. All concerts will be performed at Pearce Auditorium at Brenau University with "Meet the Artists" reception to follow. He is survived by his wife, Partricia, son, Jeff of Gainesville daughter, Barbara Sharif of Ft. Lauderdale and 7 grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Pro Musica's Endowment Fund at Box 2196, Gainesville 30503. No flowers Please. There will be a Memorial Service at the First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville at 2 PM on Saturday, July 9th starting with a Chamber Music concert and followed by a reception in the Social Room at the Church. Mason-Ward-Rogers Funeral Directors, Gainesville, GA 770-287-0220