James Gillespie Fowke

James Gillespie Fowke, 92, of North Augusta, South Carolina, passed from
this life into the presence of his Lord and Savior on February 28, 2026, at
home, surrounded by his loving family. A Celebration of Life service will be
held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at First Baptist Church of
North Augusta. The family will receive friends at the church immediately
following the service.

Born on May 14, 1933, at the family's beloved homeplace in the Boiling
Springs Community in Barnwell County, South Carolina, to the late Laurie
Cargill and Ruth Elizabeth Gillespie Fowke, James lived a life marked by
faithful service to his country, his family, his community, and his Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.

A 1952 graduate of Barnwell High School, he then became a proud veteran
of the United States Army. Following his service, he pursued higher
education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from
the University of South Carolina and a Master of Engineering in Mechanical

Engineering from the University of Virginia. His distinguished career took
him first to NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and
later to the U.S. Department of Energy at the Savannah River Site in Aiken,
South Carolina, where he served with professionalism and dedication
throughout his career of 31 years.

James was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather,
brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, and son. He was married to the late
Norma Jewel Grubbs Fowke, with whom he built a beautiful life for 34
years and raised two daughters, Claire Fowke McElmurray (John) and Beth
Fowke Burbage (Greg). Through them, James was blessed with five
grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. After Norma's death, James
found joy and companionship in his marriage to Margaret McKie Fowke for
38 1/2 years, and warmly embraced her children, Steve Scott (Jayne) and
Jackie Scott McNeal (Philip), her three grandchildren and seven great-
grandchildren, as his own.

Above all, James was a devout Christian whose greatest passion was
sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His faith was not merely personal, it was
a calling he answered with tireless zeal. He traveled on multiple mission
trips to China, Kenya, Tanzania, Peru, and Taiwan, taking the love of Christ
to people across the globe. For an extraordinary 54 1/2 years, James served
faithfully as a member of The Gideons International, placing Bibles and
spreading God's Word far and wide. His testimony was a living witness to
the grace and goodness of the Lord he loved.

James was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of North Augusta
where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. For about 15
years, he and his wife, Margaret, led an Internationals' Class at their church
on Wednesday evenings, with the goal of teaching the Bible and how having
a personal relationship with Jesus could change their lives. James was
deeply passionate about supporting the Vietnamese community and played
a key role in reuniting their families in and around North Augusta through
his service as president of The Baptist Brotherhood. In 1975, as chair of the
Missions' Committee, James played an integral role in leading his church to
welcome and sponsor three Vietnamese families into the community.

In his spare time and with a keen love of learning, James had many
interests: classic Volkswagens, Gamecock football, gardening, spending
time with family, and anything to do with space and rocket launches.

Having once considered going into the medical field, James, being true to
his servant nature, donated his body to the Medical College of Georgia at
Augusta University for medical research and health care education.

In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by his beloved first
wife, one brother, seven sisters, and his great-granddaughter, Eleanor
"Ellie" Quinn Burbage.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret M. Fowke; his daughters, Claire F.
McElmurray (John), and Beth F. Burbage (Greg); his stepchildren, Steve
Scott (Jayne), and Jackie S. McNeal (Philip); eight grandchildren; fourteen
great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Richard T. Laughridge; many nieces
and nephews; and a host of family and friends whose lives he touched with
his warmth, wisdom, and unwavering faith.

The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Annette Williams,
MYD Services, Inc., and Enhabit Home Health & Hospice for their
compassionate care and support throughout our journey.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made
to the Missions' Fund at First Baptist Church of North Augusta, 625
Georgia Avenue, North Augusta, SC 29841, csrachurch.org, or The Gideons
International, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800, gideons.org.

"Well done, good and faithful servant." — Matthew 25:21