Cowart resigns after 50 years in the funeral business

Pictured are, from left, Ronnie Waters, Phil Cowart, Ed Thompson and James Strickland

Phil Cowart recently retired from 50 years of service as a licensed funeral home director and embalmer.

He began working with Thompson Funeral Home in Sylvania in the 1960s. At first, he worked part-time when James Strickland and Ronnie Waters bought the funeral home on Singleton Avenue and, later, worked 15 years full-time. He stayed on in 1992 when the funeral home was renamed Thompson, Strickland, Waters Funeral Home.

Prior to his employment at the Sylvania funeral home, Cowart worked at the former Fletcher Funeral Home in Millen.

A retirement reception was held for him at the funeral home.