Reverend Paul Cowley

Reverend Paul Edward Cowley, age 64, of Dothan, Alabama passed away Friday, March 11, 2022.

Drive through visitation will be held on Friday, March 18, 2022 from 4-6 PM at the Funeral Home.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 12 noon at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church; 1110 Allen Road, Dothan, Alabama 36303.

Burial will immediately follow the service at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pastor Paul E. Cowley was the son of the late Urias Cowley and the late Theola Sykes.  He was born August 29, 1957, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.  He later moved to East St. Louis, Illinois with his family.

After high school, he joined the United States Army and was stationed in Fort Rucker, Alabama; where he met his wife: Diane Stephens.  They were married in Pirmasens, Germany in 1977 and traveled the world together.  To this union, two sons: David Paul and Matthew Paul Cowley, were born.  In 1990, he retired from the Army and relocated to Dothan, Alabama.

After his retirement, he worked for Dothan City Schools.  He accepted the call to the ministry in November, 1998, and was later employed by Wiregrass Hospice (later Gentiva) as Chaplain.  He always said that he was so blessed to be able to do the Lord's work seven days a week.  He retired for the second time in 2015.

Throughout his ministry, he served as Assistant Pastor for Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Newton, Alabama (1999-2003) and New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Shorterville, Alabama (1998-2002).  He was called as Pastor to Sardis Baptist Church in June of 2003 and continued there until his death.  He often said, "You will know when you love the Lord because you can't help but love all God's people."  Paul truly loved everyone.  He not only pastored a church, but his ministry extended to several communities.  His love for people guided him to volunteer with the Dothan Rescue Mission, the House of Ruth, Inc., Southeast Health Hospital, and several prisons throughout Alabama and Florida.  He touched lives and hearts wherever he went.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Urias Cowley and Theola Sykes; one brother: Murl Cowley; and one sister: Rosemary Cowley Roberts.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 44 years: Diane Stephens Cowley; two sons: David Paul (Lorrissa) of Dothan, Alabama and Matthew Paul (Aisha) of Gainesville, Florida; one brother: Jimmy Linzy of Washington Park, Illinois; four sisters: Delorise Marks, Joyce Harden, Mary Ann Dozier all of Washington Park, Illinois and Barbara Ellison (Al) of Clarksville, Tennessee; three sisters-in-law: Ila Allen, Glenda (Bobbie) Ward, and Cynthia (James) Keyton all of Dothan, Alabama; two granddaughters: Arianna Diane and Aisha Diane both of Dothan, Alabama; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, and unofficially adopted children, all of whom he loved dearly.

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