Jim Cowart was a man known for his many financial contributions to the Atlanta community, but his motivation for success was his will to help those around him.
“He changed my family,” said Kela Campbell, a family friend.
“He embraced us like we were his family, it was important for him to know how my sons and husband were doing.”
She said hers wasn’t the only life he touched, that she was just one of many.
A renowned real estate developer and Atlanta native, Cowart began his commercial development assembling 91 acres on I-285, a site now known as Perimeter Center. He donated the profits from the Perimeter Center transaction to 38 local churches.
“He felt it was his job to give back,” said Campbell.
James H. Cowart, known to many as Jim, was president and owner of Jim Cowart, Inc., a Dunwoody-based land development company. He devoted most of his business expertise to north Fulton and Gwinnett County, also developing the Class A development known as North Point Parkway.
His vision expanded from north Fulton to Macon. Cowart became a Life Trustee of Mercer University in 2010 after serving six terms as a trustee. He was a generous supporter of the University since the early 1970s.
“Jim Cowart was a quiet leader at Mercer for more than four decades,” said Mercer President William D. Underwood in a press release. “He played an instrumental role in the founding of Atlanta Baptist College, which merged with Mercer in 1972.”
His housing developments began inside the perimeter of Dunwoody, then expanded to the Peachtree Corners communities in Gwinnett and continued into north Fulton.
Cowart died in his Roswell home Aug. 15 from cancer. He was 83. A funeral service was held Tuesday at Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, Johns Creek. Roswell Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Through his career Cowart was the recipient of numerous awards including the Lewis Cenker Award presented by the Atlanta Home Builders Association, the Jack Sawyer Citizen of the Year Award from the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Distinguished Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of America and the Man of the Year Award from the Metro Atlanta YMCA.
“Yes, he was successful and a visionary but he did all these things with grace, humbleness and honesty,” said Campbell.
A man of his word, Cowart had a motto that could be seen throughout his office, or heard as a constant verbal reminder: “It’s nice to be important but more important to be nice” — and no one doubted his word, Campbell said.
“He was quiet, humble and a remarkable man,” said his wife Linda Cowart. “And he cared so much about the community.”
In addition to his wife, Cowart is survived by sons, Dan Cowart (Kris), David Cowart (Britt) and Ben Cowart; daughter, Cindy Burch (Bruce); stepdaughter Michelle McKinnon (Shawn) and 20 grandchildren, all of the north Atlanta area.
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