Jason Montgomery Fowler

Obituary For Jason Montgomery Fowler

Mr. Jason Montgomery Fowler, 64, of Belmont, North Carolina was born September 12, 1961 and departed this life on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Robin Johnson House in Dallas, North Carolina.

Arrangements Are As Follows:

PLACE OF FUNERAL: St. Stephens AME Zion Church - Chapel, 201 W. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28052

DATE & TIME: Saturday, May 23, 2026 @ 1:00 P.M.

VISITATION/LIE IN STATE: At the church on Saturday thirty minutes prior to service from 12:30 until 1:00 P.M.

INTERMENT: Evergreen Cemetery, 1462 Armstrong Ford Road, Belmont, NC 28012

NOTE: The service is being lived streamed via the church.

Jason Montgomery Fowler Sr. The Obituary

There are some people who simply pass through the world, and there are others who cultivate it by tending to hearts, nurturing communities, and leaving behind soil richer than they found it. Jason Montgomery Fowler Sr. was one of those people.

To know Jason was to feel seen. No matter where he went, he knew someone, and if he did not, he soon would. He carried a rare gift for connection, bringing together people who otherwise may never have crossed paths. Through conversation, encouragement, mentorship, laughter, and faith, he planted seeds of love and support everywhere he walked. He believed that communities survive when people continue enriching the soil for future generations, and he dedicated his life to doing exactly that.

Jason’s spirit is rooted deeply in the example set before him. Born on September 12, 1961, in Detroit, Michigan, Jason grew up watching his parents, Willie Fowler and Sonja Fowler, serve as beacons of compassion, resilience, and generosity within their community. His Aunt Marlene Davis also helped raise Jason, as she was a historical trail-blazer, one of the first African Americans to graduate from nursing school in Danville, Illinois. Through family, Jason learned that success is not measured solely by personal achievement, but by the seeds of love and support he sows throughout his life and community, through God.

One of the many lessons that stayed with him throughout his life came from his mother, Sonja Fowler, who would often remind him:

“You have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Be a sponge, learn as much as you can, and blessings will be bestowed upon you.”

Jason carried those words with him into every season of life.

A graduate of Cass Tech in 1979, Jason later attended Michigan State University, proudly carrying the spirit of the Spartans with him wherever life led. Through faith, perseverance, and determination, he dreamed of one day building a loving family, becoming a leader in his community, and creating opportunities not only for himself, but for others as well.

What began with washing cars at Enterprise Rent-A-Car became a testament to perseverance, humility, discipline, and faith. Jason listened, learned, adapted, and steadily rose through the organization, eventually managing districts throughout Washington D.C., St. Louis,

Dayton, Ohio, Metro Detroit, and New England. In time, he became one of the first African American GM/VPs within Enterprise Rent-A-Car, overseeing operations throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and parts of Connecticut.

Jason was (and still is) blessed with a rare gift of connection, bringing together people who otherwise may never have crossed paths.

Even as his professional success grew, Jason never forgot the importance of reaching back to help others climb forward. He mentored aspiring leaders, especially young African Americans seeking opportunities in business and leadership, encouraging them not only to succeed professionally, but to become pillars within their own communities. He believed leadership meant opening doors for others and “keeping the soil nutrient rich” for future generations.

Jason’s impact extended far beyond business. He served on the United Way of Rhode Island Community Advisory Board, was a member of the Urban League Society and the NAACP, where he received the Outstanding Community Service Award for his advocacy and community initiatives. He was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau and dedicated countless hours to uplifting the communities he loved. He never wanted to stand on the status quo.

Yet those who knew him best understand that his greatest work was never confined to titles, awards, or boardrooms. His true legacy lives in the people he encouraged, the wisdom he shared, the lives he strengthened, and the love he cultivated so freely.

A man of deep faith, Jason often reminded his children and those around him:

“Life is like the seasons… There’s ups, and there’s downs. The leaves come, and they go. But life persists on. Summer wouldn’t feel so warm, if we didn’t know winter is coming. Some seeds sprout best in the Spring, others need the warm soil and cool air of the Fall. Never give up, for you never know what blessings are waiting for you each season.”

He understood that every season carried purpose.

A man of deep faith, Jason believed wisdom was one of life’s greatest gifts, and that patience, listening, compassion, and understanding could transform not only individuals, but entire communities. Proverbs 4:7 was ingrained in his heart: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And with all thy getting, get understanding.”

That wisdom shaped the family life he and his beloved wife, Patricia Copeland Fowler, built together. Early in their relationship, Jason and Patricia shared not only dreams, but discipline and vision, building their future side by side with intentionality, faith, and perseverance.

During one particularly difficult season, while Jason was adjusting to the pressures and hardships surrounding his career journey, Patricia gave him a card that depicted a small mouse pushing a massive elephant up a flight of stairs. To them, it symbolized resilience and the belief that no obstacle was too large when faced together with faith, determination, and love. That image became representative of the life they would continue building together for decades to come.

Through prayer, perseverance, and God’s grace, Jason and Patricia were blessed with the family Jason had dreamed of since childhood. Together they raised three children: Jordan Moriah Fowler, Jason Montgomery Fowler II, and Joshua March Fowler, each lovingly given names rooted in biblical meaning and faith.

Though both Jason and Patricia carried the sickle cell trait, they prayed fervently over the birth of each child, placing their trust fully in God. Their prayers, once again, were answered in ways they considered nothing short of miraculous.

Jason was also a loving brother who deeply cherished and protected his younger sister, Jamie, encouraging her to always pursue her purpose and walk confidently through every season of life. His love for family was unwavering and intentional.

The importance of generational love and spiritual connection remained ever-present throughout Jason’s life. Before the birth of his first child, Jordan, Jason had already experienced the heartbreaking loss of his father, Willie Fowler. At the hospital, during the moment Jordan entered the world, Kenny G’s “Going Home,” the very same song played at Willie’s funeral, unexpectedly played over the hospital PA system. To Jason and Pat, it was more than coincidence. It was a reminder that love transcends earthly boundaries and that his father was present to witness the beginning of a new generation.

Throughout a long and courageous health journey, my father continued to embody the faith and resilience he had spent his life teaching others. Though his body grew weary, his spirit never stopped pouring into those around him. Even in hardship, he believed there was purpose.

As I reflect on the wisdom Dad planted in all of us, I find myself returning to a truth that grew from the lessons he lived every day:

“There is fruit to be gained in all that you endure in this life, so long as your eyes and heart are open to see it.”

One of life’s greatest blessings was that Dad remained continually surrounded by the family he once prayed for as a child. He was loved fiercely, supported faithfully, and never truly alone through any season, all the way to his final breaths.

The seeds Dad planted will continue to grow in every life touched by his kindness, wisdom, mentorship, faith, and unwavering love.

Though the season is changing, the seeds he planted continue to bloom. The soil he nurtured remains rich with love. We will always be proud of you, Dad. The harvest of your love will continue to bless all who encountered you, all who are reading this, and many future generations to come.

Written by: Joshua March Fowler Edited by: Jordan Moriah Fowler

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