James served in the United States Navy. He loved to travel and was also employed for many years at B & B warehouse. James was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Manchester, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby McDowell, parents Theo and Candis McDowell and aunt Kate Rains. He leaves to mourn his children, James R. McDowell, Jr. (Judy), Candis McDowell Williams (James), Regina McDowell Bowers (Herbert) and Gregory McDowell (Louise), grandchildren, Toriano McDowell, Joseph Baker, Jr., Toccara Bowers, Tamara Bowers, Lashanda McDowell, Doreatha McDowell, Darjeeling McDowell, Crystal McDowell, James McDowell III, Thomas McDowell, Nicole Pickett, Oscar Terry, Clark Preston, and Jermaine McDowell; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; cousins, Jonas Anderson, Maxine Anderson and Treblien Pollard.

Aikens Funeral Home