Charles D. Lowery

1937 - 2019

Charles D. Lowery, Starkville resident, born May 8, 1937 died January 12, 2019 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo due to complications from pulmonary fibrosis. He was born in Greeneville but spent his childhood in Montgomery, Alabama, where he graduated in 1955 from Sidney Lanier High School. He received a BA in English from Huntington College (1959), an MA from Florida State University (1961), and a PhD from the University of Virginia, where he was a Jefferson Scholar (1966). During this time, Charles was also a minister in the United Methodist Church. He taught history at Mississippi State University for 31 years before retiring in 1999. During his tenure as a professor at State, Charles served in various leadership positions, including Head of the History Department, Director of the Institute for the Humanities and Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences.
A distinguished scholar and historian, Dr. Lowery specialized in America's early republic and was a premier authority on James Barbour, a Jeffersonian Republican for whom he wrote a defining biography. Additionally, Dr. Lowery co-authored a collection of stories on the history of the Old Main Dormitory on the MSU campus, which has provided many humorous insights into the historical life of dormitory residents. He also co-authored a comprehensive encyclopedia on African American civil rights.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susie Bradford Lowery; son Tom Lowery and his wife Terri of Gainesville, FL and their three children Bradford, Blake and Trent; son Trent Lowery and wife Josephine of Birmingham, Alabama and their four children Savannah, Harrison, Sara Frances, and Sophie; and son Dan Lowery and wife Kelly also of Birmingham, Alabama and their three children Sarah Parker, Mae, and Jackson. He is also survived by his sister Frances Poeppelmeir of Dadeville, Alabama and his brother-in-law Toney Bryan of Montgomery, Alabama.
He was preceded in death by his parents Reuben and Frances Lowery, his brothers Dan and Harvey Lowery, and his sister Matt Lowery Bryan.
He was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church and could often be found using his creative woodworking and carpentry talents constructing playgrounds for churches and rural schools in the greater Starkville area. As a board member of College Choice Foundation, he derived great pleasure in helping disadvantaged, low-income students attend college. His love of beauty was reflected in his design and construction of colonial muzzle loader guns which he enjoyed demonstrating in local school frontier days. He also derived great pleasure in the actual demonstration of the gun-making process in educational environments.
His was a life well-lived dedicated in service to his fellow man and seeking social justice for those with the least voice. A celebration of life service will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church at 1:00 P.M. on Friday January 18th. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations be made in his name to the College Choice Foundation (www.collegechoicefoundation.org ) through the Trinity Presbyterian Church Office or to the charity of your choice
You may go online to www.welchfuneralhomes.com to sign the guest register.