Local advocate for disabled dies

Jones Thomas Bowen, one of Aiken's most passionate advocates for the disabled and for the prevention of disabilities, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, at age 51.

According to Tri-Development Center executive director Ralph Courtney, Bowen suffered a heart attack Saturday morning and died later that day at Aiken Regional Medical Centers.

Bowen was special activities prevention/safety director for the Tri-Development Center of Aiken and coordinator of Safe Kids of Aiken. He held a bachelor's degree in psychology from South Carolina State University and was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

"He is really going to be missed in our community. He was everywhere, helping children be safe," Courtney said. "I've known Jones for 30 years, before he ever moved down here from Columbia, and he's worked with us at Tri-Development for 13 years. He was a true friend to people with disabilities, but at the same time, he was passionate about preventing disabilities. He worked with installing child car seats properly to prevent injury, he worked with DUI prevention, he taught children to walk to school safely, he promoted bicycle helmets. The morning he died he was supposed to be going to Aiken Technical College to teach a class for child care workers on preventing shaken baby syndrome. He worked closely with the Aiken Department of Public Safety, with the Marine Corps League, with Head Start of Aiken, with so many groups."

Aiken Department of Public Safety Lt. David Turno said Bowen will be missed. Bowen worked with Aiken High School, Families of Highway Fatalities and the S.C. Office of Highway Safety on an annual program in high schools to discourage prom-bound students from drinking and driving on their big night.

"Jones was kind of the center, bringing all of us in different agencies together to make Aiken a safer place, not only for children but for adults, as well," Turno said. "He really brought the Safe Kids program to Aiken and the child seat safety program. There was a book for children on safety we did with Jones, and Sue Townsend, who was coroner at the time, was involved in that, as well. It was trying to get people to wear their seat belts. He was a gifted grant writer; he was so passionate about what he did."

Bowen was Aiken's liaison to the Special Olympics, as the longtime coordinator of the Special Olympics-S.C. Spring Games for Area 15.

"It was a real shock to me. I liked Jones; he was a great big teddy bear of a guy. He was really good at what he did, and he did it for the special needs community, of which my son is a member," said Bill Boyce, outgoing area 15 director for Special Olympics-S.C. "We're right in the middle of planning for this year's Spring Games, and losing him will have a huge impact. My association with Jones was from January to March or April of each year, putting these games together. He took over as coordinator at least 10 years ago, and he really built the Spring Games up into a viable program for Area 15. He arranged the site for the games; he organized the participation of the local schools."

Said Sharon Rodgers, president of the United Way of Aiken County, "He was a nice gentleman, a hard-working man. He was the kind of guy who uplifted everyone, who you just felt good to be around. I'm just stunned."

Bowen was active in his church, New & Living Way Apostolic Church in Trenton. He was a deacon, the church's youth choir minister and a member of the Praise & Worship Ministry.

"He was an outstanding, committed deacon and churchman. He was a very humble servant and passionate about his work with young people. He was our number one or two person to go to with young people's issues," said Suffragan Bishop William Robert Cue, pastor of New & Living Way. "We could always count on him; he gave fully of himself, and it's a disastrous loss. No one will be able to take his place."

Bowen is survived by his wife Stephanie Bowen; three sons; one grandchild; his father, Jones E. Bowen of Travelers Rest; a brother and sister, as well as extended family.

Funeral arrangements had not been completed at press time. G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary on Beaufort Street is assisting the Bowen family with arrangements. The funeral home can be reached at 648-0134.

Suzanne Stone is a general assignment reporter at the Aiken Standard. Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com, or follow on Twitter at #SuzanneRStone and on Facebook at Suzanne Stone | Aiken Standard.