Hundreds Mourn Tillie Fowler

By First Coast News Staff

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- From high-profile politicians to just plain folks, hundreds of mourners crowded St. Marks Episcopal Church in Ortega Friday to honor the legacy of former Congresswoman Tillie Fowler, who died earlier this week of a brain hemorrhage. She was 62.

"Jacksonville has lost not only a friend, but an amazing advocate for this region's military," said Mayor John Peyton.

Fowler, the first female president of Jacksonville City Council, went on to serve four terms in Congress, retiring in 2001.

She was a tireless fighter for her military constituents in North Florida, and at the time of her death, was heavily involved in discussions about the future of the U.S.S. Kennedy and other military matters.

"She was just such a great lady," said her replacement on Capitol Hill, U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw.

Fowler is survived by her husband Buck, and two daughters.

Tillie Fowler graduated from Emory University, where she received both her B.A. and law degree. Before moving to Jacksonville in 1971, she served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Representative Robert G. Stephens, Jr. from Georgia and was General Counsel in the White House Office of Consumer Affairs.

Fowler has a long history of public and community service. In addition to her work in both local and national government, she is active in many organizations which work to improve the quality of life in Jacksonville. She was a founding member of the Duval County Public Education Foundation, past president of the Junior League, past chairman of Volunteer Jacksonville, a member of the Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women and of Leadership JacksonviIIe.

On the state level, she served for two years as the Chair of the Florida Endowment for the Humanities. She also serves on the Emory University Board of Governors, St. Vincent's Health Systems Advisory Board, the Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group for the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida and the American Red Cross Board.

Fowler was known as the "Steel Magnolia" for her quiet tenacity during four terms in Congress.

Fowler served in the U-S House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001, when she retired. She joined a law firm in February 2001, just a week after her election to the board of directors of Winn-Dixie Stores.

She retired from Congress after four terms, sticking with a pledge she had made when first elected to only serve four terms. When she retired, Fowler was the most powerful woman in Congress -- vice chairwoman of the House Republican Conference and fifth in the GOP hierarchy.

After leaving Congress, Fowler was chairwoman of an investigation into alleged sexual assaults at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Fowler, 62, was a native of Milledgeville, Georgia, where her father was a pharmacist who served in the Legislature.

After law school, Fowler worked for Georgia Rep. Robert Stephens and worked in the Office of Consumer Affairs with Elizabeth Dole, who was the godmother of one of her daughters.

Starting last Wednesday until her day of internment, all flags on state property were flown at half-staff in honor of former U.S. Representative Tillie Fowler.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Tillie K. Fowler NROTC Scholarship Fund at Jacksonville University.

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