Richard Lee Bowers

Richard Lee Bowers, 86, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, a former leader in local, state, and national government and humanitarian causes, passed away on October 26, 2026, at Baptist Medical Center Beaches. A devoted family man, Southern history buff, avid reader, and enthusiastic storyteller, Richard was known for his passion for human and civil rights, politics, history, and children’s education and development. He was also known for his genuine kindness, sincere interest in others, loyal friendships, great sense of humor and intelligence. He built many friendships and enjoyed helping friends by connecting them with one another.

Born in Atlanta to the late LeRoy “Kelly” Bowers and Martha Fowle Bowers, Richard grew up in Decatur, Georgia; Montgomery, Alabama; and Jacksonville, Florida. He is survived by his wife, Frances Heilig Bowers; his sons, Matthew Glenn Bowers and Whittington Lee Bowers (Elizabeth); his granddaughter, Katherine Elizabeth Kelly Bowers; his sister, Elizabeth Bowers Seif; and a number of nephews, cousins, grandnieces, and grandnephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Mitchell Whittington Bowers, and his former wife, Jeannie Fewell.

Richard graduated from Landon High School in Jacksonville in 1957; George Williams College of Chicago in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree; and the University of Louisville in 1970 with a Master of Public Administration degree. He also graduated from the Senior Government Executive Program at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University.

Richard began his career as an intern assisting in the Civil Rights Movement. He then became an inner-city YMCA youth director in Louisville and director of YMCA Camp Piomingo. He subsequently entered government service with the Gateway Development District in Eastern Kentucky before returning to Jacksonville in 1971. He served as director of Community Relations and head of Neighborhood Improvement and Community Development for the City of Jacksonville; executive director of Jacksonville Community Council, Inc.; deputy secretary of the State of Florida Department of Community Affairs; director of the City Department of Housing and Urban Development; and vice president of the PGA TOUR for Community Affairs. In retirement, he managed several Community Development Districts and worked as a lobbyist.

He also served as an adjunct professor of Public Information at Florida State University, the University of North Florida, and Flagler College.

Richard was proud of his role in the rebuilding of Hemming Plaza, now James Weldon Johnson Park, and Blodgett Homes in Jacksonville; the development of World Gold Village, including the Hall of Fame for the PGA TOUR, in St. Augustine; and the establishment of a local government structure in Guyana. For more than four years in Washington, D.C., he led an effort by the PGA TOUR and the bipartisan leadership of Congress to raise funds for literacy in district schools.

His lifelong hobbies included reading books and studying Scottish, Irish, and Celtic history, as well as American and Southern history, with an emphasis on the Southern mountains. He sought out Southern folklore and folk music throughout his life. He was a lifelong fan of FSU and an admirer of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. He came from a family that first settled in Virginia in 1635 and whose members were part of the Sons of Liberty and the Boston Tea Party. Two generations of his family served in the Confederate Army. He found humor in the fact that, the first time he was arrested in the Civil Rights Movement, he was wearing a signet ring given to his great-grandfather by his father when he marched south with the 17th Virginia Confederate States Army. He was also wearing the ring when he received a Crystal Apple Award from the Congressional Black Caucus for scholarship fundraising.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on December 5, 2026, at Quinn Shalz Funeral Home in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Coast YMCA - Make a Gift Today | First Coast YMCA .