Grady Jefferson Fowler Jr.

Grady Jefferson Fowler Jr. was born December 4, 1941 in Henderson County to parents Grady Fowler Sr. and Alice Irene Blankenship Fowler, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rita Carolyn Hart Fowler; three children, Anthony (Melinda) Fowler, Melissa (Tommy) Riggs, and Chris Fowler; eight grandchildren, Matt Fowler, Nerissa Fowler, Hanna Fowler, Sarah Fowler Gray (Jerry), Caitlin Fowler, Raychel Fowler, Taylar Rushing, and Chase Knipper; seven great-grandchildren, Cooper Brooks, Annsley “Annie” Plodzein, Albert Joseph “AJ” Plodzein, Willow Grace Holmes, Tatum Rushing, Maverick Rushing, Preston Knipper. He is also survived by his sister Johnnie Sue Hayes and brother Gary (Karen) Fowler, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, friends, and fellow singers in southern gospel music who loved him dearly.

Mr. Fowler attended Beech Bluff School where he graduated in 1959. After graduating, he and his wife, Carolyn, were married in 1962. He was a faithful member and served as an elder at Maple Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Additionally, he was a proud Mason, embodying the values of service and fraternity. Mr. Fowler worked a multitude of jobs including farming, saw mill, truck driving, TVA crews, salesman, factory jobs, as well as a custodian at Beech Bluff School where he retired.

He grew up in a singing family and began singing from an early age in the Beech Bluff School Quartet. Throughout his 75 years of singing, he sang in many different southern gospel groups including The Jubilaires, The Brotherhood Quartet, The Heismen Quartet, and was a founding member of The Fowler Singers and Living Truth Quartet. He also wrote a few gospel songs, some of which he recorded with his various groups. He received the Bobby Jones Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 from the West Tennessee Quartet Convention for his many years of service to the southern gospel music industry.

Junior loved nature and enjoyed many outdoor activities including gardening, hunting, fishing, riding his four wheeler, and caring for his beloved dog companion, Baxter. Mr. Fowler always said that he could drive anything that could be driven. He also enjoyed traveling with his family and singing groups, telling jokes, meeting people, and spending time with family and friends.

Junior’s love for his family, music, and community will be remembered by all who knew him. His legacy of faith, kindness, and song will continue to inspire those whose lives he touched.

A visitation with friends and loved ones for Grady will be held Saturday, January 4, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Maple Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 2005 Beech Bluff Rd., Beech Bluff, Tennessee 38313, followed by the funeral service at 1:00 PM. Pallbearers for his service will be Matt Fowler, Jerry Gray, II, Tracy Hayes, Junior Johnson, Walter Hale Jr., Rusty Petty, and Tommy Vest.

The family asks that memorials be made in his memory to the Beech Bluff Cemetery Fund in c/o Gary Bell, 409 Crawford Springs Rd., Beech Bluff, Tennessee 38313.