Joseph Wilson McGowan, III
Laurens, South Carolina
Retired family court judge, Joseph W. McGowan, III, beloved husband of Eleanor (Suzie) Harvey McGowan, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina on February 4, 1952, he was the son of Joseph W. McGowan, Jr. and Ellen Virginia Mims McGowan. He attended public schools in Charleston and graduated from St. Andrew’s Parish High School. While in high school he played keyboards for “The Miracle Makers”, “The Shoresmen”, “The Dawks”, “The Malibus”, “The Testament”, and “The Counts” at venues such as “The UFO Club” in Columbia, South Carolina, “Alice Underground” on Folly Beach, “The Old Side” and “Art’s New Seaside” on the Isle of Palms, “The Caravan Supper Club” in downtown Charleston, and “Jeromes” and “The Downtown Lounge” in Boston, Massachusetts backing up recording artists such as “The Original Drifters”, Major Lance and “The Tams”.
He graduated with honors from Newberry College where he was initiated into the Kappa Alpha Order, becoming his chapter’s president his senior year. Later he was admitted into the Graves Province Court of Honor.
Judge McGowan later graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law and entered private practice until he was elected to the family court bench in 1999. He retired in 2017 and began a successful mediation practice. Prior to his election he served as a commissioner of public works for the city of Laurens, South Carolina and on the University of South Carolina Board of Visitors. He was a proud South Carolina Gamecock.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by the following children: Dr. Joseph W. McGowan, IV of Charleston, South Carolina, Marshall West McGowan (Kate) of San Diego California, Jay Alan O’Dell (Jessie) of Summerville, South Carolina, and Janna Leigh Brown (Donnie) of Newberry, South Carolina; the following grandchildren: Lucas Jay O’Dell, Jacob Parker O’Dell and Caroline Grace Brown; adopted grandchildren: Kevin, Alex, Elijah, Wyatt, Emily and Avery O’Dell; and a sister, Pamela Jo McGowan Miller of Loganville, Georgia.
A celebration of life reception will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, 4-6 PM at the Lake Rabon Estates Clubhouse, 302 West Peninsula Drive, Laurens, SC.
The family will be at the home.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Laurens, 300 West Main Street, Laurens, SC 29360 or online at https://www.fbclaurens.org/online-giving-form.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family at www.thekennedymortuary.com.
Kennedy Mortuary and Crematory
