Peter Bowden Powell

Pete was born March 12, 1949 in Ocala, Florida to Emil Bowden Powell and Caroline Cobb Powell. In the early 1960’s, Pete’s family relocated from Ocala to Sandy Springs, Georgia where he attended Guy Webb Elementary School and later attended and graduated from Sandy Springs High School in 1967. After high school he attended the University of Tennessee for two years. He transferred to Florida State University where he became a Seminole and graduated with a B.S. in Management.

Immediately after college, Pete entered the commercial mortgage banking profession and spent several years with various firms throughout the southeast before settling back in the Atlanta area for a few years. Eventually he re-located to Jacksonville, Florida where he founded his own mortgage firm and then later moved to south Florida, where he spent most of his professional life. Toward the end of his career, as the dynamics of the commercial mortgage industry changed, he diversified his skill set and developed expertise in other areas such as mortgage and real estate due diligence, commercial property management and even IT solutions and support. He was never one to shy away from the adoption of new technology. A consummate “Road Warrior”, Pete was always in search of challenging consulting opportunities from coast to coast. In 2016, he finally retired in Atlanta to be near his family.

Pete was well read with numerous interests. He could identify and rattle off the names of obscure plants and wildlife just as easily as he could carry on an in-depth discussion about the bond market. As a young boy in Ocala, he was a outstanding Cub Scout and Boy Scout. Later, in high school, he was a popular athlete and was even known to knock out a few tunes on the guitar. Throughout his life Pete enjoyed playing golf, reading, studying his family’s genealogy, and of course, a good party.

Pete is survived by his son, Travis Bowden Powell, daughter-in-law Bonnie Oliver Powell and three beautiful granddaughters, Emma Sanders Powell (21), Elle Bowden Powell (17) and Kellyn Elisabeth Powell (13) who live in Johns Creek, GA, his niece Caroline “Sissy” Rabern Gabelmann and great-nephew Wolfgang Rabern of Greeneville, TN. Due to COVID-19, no funeral services or memorials are planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, Pete’s family requests any donations be made to the American Cancer Society (see link below).