George Lewis Yowell

George Lewis Yowell –Age 74. Passed away on the 19th of June, 2016. He was the son of William Carey and Lucy Lacy Yowell and preceded in death by his brother, William Carey Yowell, Jr. and his daughter, Lacy Yowell Ould.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Norene Black Yowell; children, Virginia Yowell Sheppard (Chan), Mary Lucy Yowell, Georgia Yowell Ferrell (Benjamin) and son-in-law, Nelson Ould; brother, Beverly Carlton Yowell (Jeannine); grandchildren, Tinsley Sheppard, Lacy Sheppard, Adelaide Ferrell, and George Lewis Ferrell.

He graduated from Orange County High School (VA) and Virginia Polytechnical Institute and earned a Masters in Finance from The University of Richmond. In 1964, he started his career in banking in then Management Training Program at First and Merchants National Bank in Richmond, Virginia and then joined Metropolitan National Bank in Richmond (which later became Dominion Bank of Richmond) and, at 32, was elected president. He was elected to Young Presidents Organization (YPO) in 1975 where he served as Rebel Chapter chairman and chief financial officer of YPO international (1983-89). As a board member and chairman of the capital campaign of the Science Museum of Virginia, he helped raise twelve million dollars to build the Planetarium and Space Theater (1987).

He served as the founding director of the Virginia Environmental Endowment (1977-87) and chairman of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce. An active Member at St. Paul’s Church, Richmond, he served as Rector’s Warden. In 1988, he moved from Richmond to Nashville to form Dominion Bank of Middle Tennessee, where he served as president (1988-1994). Following his tenure at the bank, he was president of Tennessee Tomorrow (1994-2004). George was active in many organizations including Leadership Nashville, YMCA Foundation, Harpeth Hall, Cumberland Science Museum, Belle Meade Country Club, Boy Scouts of America (Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver and Distinguished Eagle Scout), Belmont University, and Habitat for Humanity. He served chairman of the Board for the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Preston Taylor Ministries, and Operation Andrew Group. He led Bible studies with Christian Leadership Concepts and was an active member of First Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed tennis, snow skiing, and spending time with his family.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, the 22nd of June from one until three o’clock in the afternoon in Courtenay Hall of First Presbyterian Church, Nashville. Memorial service will follow at three o’clock in the afternoon of the 22nd at First Presbyterian Church. Burial and graveside service will be held on the 25th of June at Maplewood Cemetery in Gordonsville, VA at 10:30am.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson St., Nashville, TN 37203 or Preston Taylor Ministries, PO Box 90442, Nashville, TN 37209.