John Downs Obituary

In my culture in Belgium it is usual to send condolences only at the day of the ceremony. I prefer to join this habit, although I have deep respect for the died person in question, as for mostly all died persons as well.

In my heart on the anniversary of your passing - and always xoxo

Thinking of you with so much love on Father´s Day. I am
so very blessed to be your daughter.

Happy Birthday dad. Your wish is coming true!

Happy Heavenly Birthday, dear Daddy. You are always on my mind and in my heart...wish I could send you that Quaker oatmeal box filled with your favorite oatmeal raisin cookies...I wish so many things, but mostly wish you were here. Love you always xoxo

Just a quick note to tell you I love you and miss you. You would be proud of the next generation. Always striving to be the best just like you taught us!

So much love today, Daddy. 12 years seems both short and long. I miss you so. I was just inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Sewanee, and you were in my acceptance remarks as the one who roused within me the respect for a lifetime of fitness -- including your oft-given advice: "Never look back if you expect to win." You were appreciated by everyone in attendance at such a special occasion. Thanks for the memories, the example, and most of all the love. Love you always, dear Da-Da. xoxo

Gone 10 years from your loving daughter but not from her heart, Bambi. I see her pain and know she misses you terribly Uncle John. You were a wonderful Father to her. And I pray for her comfort and the knowledge that she will see you again. I remember you from my childhood and am glad you are rejoicing in Heaven with Our Lord God. Peace be with you

In my heart especially today, dear Da-Da xoxo

Happy Birthday Dad! I love you and miss you!

I miss you

Happy Heavenly Birthday, dear Daddy. I love and miss you so. <3

09.09.2020
Ten years...Ten thousand tears xoxo

What a brilliant man.....give Merle my love and ask her to contact me sometime....love her and respect all of you....Sylvia Stallings

Love conquers all!

rest in peace; requiescat in pace; R.I.P.

Thank you dad for teaching me that to be a true christian, you must love all and not carry hate in your heart. I love you!

Rest in peace and in the glory of God

rest in peace and in the spirit of God

So much love to you, Daddy....I miss you so. Happy Fathers Day xoxo

Thanks for always being my inspiration in life! Finnish the race! Love you dad!

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Daddy. Ethan and I felt -- and SAW -- you today as we met over lunch. We know you are with us always, and our love lasts forever. I love you, Da-Da. xoxo

Dear Downs family,

I know you truly miss this handsome dad...what a fine, smart family man.....know I am thinking of all of you and praying for you at the Christmas time....so thankful Jesus came and gave us reason to celebrate....give my love to Merle...miss her
.

Love you dad!

A light still burns in my heart for you, dear Daddy. Missing you today...loving you always.❤

You are right dad. Love conquers all!

Posting late, as I've been very sick....but it left me lots of time to think of you on your birthday. Always on my mind and in my heart, with the very best of you -- in me. Love you Da-Da.

Posting late, as I've been very sick....but it left me lots of time to think of you on your birthday. Always on my mind and in my heart, with the very best of you -- in me. Love you Da-Da.

Happy Birthday dad!

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

With you died the last of my family.....I never forget your last words to me, which sustain me in all trials. Always grateful for our special bond which death can never separate. On the seventh anniversary of your death, you live on in my heart and in my sons...I miss you, Daddy. xoxo

Oh how I miss you, Daddy. Happy Father's Day in Heaven. xoxo

Happy St. Patty's, Daddy. Remembering your love for all things Irish...and humming St. Patrick's Breastplate. xoxo

Happy Birthday, Dear Da-Da. You are always here for me, as you promised. Loving you and thinking of you on your 85th birthday.

You were present at our Thanksgiving feast yesterday, with the goblet turned down, as we shared stories of pickles, your resemblance to George C. Scott, school day phone calls, and your tender support of us through the darkest period of our lives. Loving and remembering you always, Da-Da.....

Your love lives on and on. Holding you in my heart on the 6th anniversary of your death, now and always. ❤

How I miss you, Da-Da. Thinking of you on your birthday with the love of a devoted daughter....xoxo

Missing you this blessed Christmastide, Daddy.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy. Loving and missing you everyday.

Amor vincit omnia, et nos cedamus amori. Happy Birthday, dear Da-Da. I love you.

Birthday blessings~

The sycamores have fallen down,
But we will build them up again with cedars.

God bless all of you as you remember you dad's bithday......thanks for the note of appreciation, Jamie...hope to meet you sometime..give Merle my love....

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs —- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
—Romans 8:16-17

I remember you so well from your childhood days at Salem College. You were blessed with great parents who were much beloved on the campus.Alice Horsfield Williams

The lamb is the light of the city of God.

Dear Dad, Just wanted to write you a quick note wishing you a Happy 80th Birthday! I miss and love you, John, Jr.

Dear John, Bambi, ArnalL, James and families,

I just learned of John's death and wanted to tell all of you how sorry my family is for your loss.

We had many good times with your father and will remember him with fondness.

Our love, thoughts and prayers to all of you.

Carole Jackson Zielske
Charlotte, North Carolina

Pop, It's been a year now, and I think about you every day. Johnny and Charlotte are growing up like weeds, and they talk about you all the time. I try to do what you taught me everyday, and just know that we love you very much!

Congratulations Dad! Your sons tagged team again, and now Porter Gaud has the annual "WATCH Award" in memory of John Upshaw Downs, Sr.

So sorry to hear about the loss of Uncle John. I know you must all miss him terribly. Please contact me, I'm on Facebook....And LinkedIn....Deborah Weeks Gouge (your cousin)

Missing you this Easter, Daddy. xxxoo

Missing you on my birthday, Daddy.

missing you on my birthday, Daddy. lub, lub.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA. LOVE, JOHN, MARGARET, JOHNNY, AND CHARLOTTE

I just found out about John's passing, and my respect and fondness for the man is extended to his family. I knew him professionally first, and personally second. He encouraged me to call him when my world imploded, allowing me to tell one person, in total confidence, the upheavals in life I wasn't ready to manage. He was a friend, a mentor, a confidant, and a compassionate man. I will miss him. Thank you, John, for being there when I needed help. I hope in some small measure I gave something back.

Happy birthday, Daddy. lub, lub.--Bambi

John was a remarkable person. Passionate and driven. He was a great friend.

Dearest Downs Family,
I too feel the loss of such a wonderful man. Please know that it was truly my absolute pleasure and honor to serve John, Merle, and the rest of the "motley crew." My life is forever enriched having met all of you. My heart & prayers are with you, And my laughter will continue to chime in with your father. He was such a joy! I will miss him. Please take care of each other. Much love to you...Always.

Dearest Downs Family,
I too feel the loss of such a wonderful man. Please know that it was truly my absolute pleasure and honor to serve John, Merle, and the rest of the "motley crew." My life is forever enriched having met all of you. My heart & prayers are with you, And my laughter will continue to chime in with your father. He was such a joy! I will miss him. Please take care of each other. Much love to you...Always.

Merle and family,

My heart breaks for your pain in losing John...what a great man and he loved his family so much. I love you and am praying God's peace for each of you..

Sylvia Stallings
Tega Cay, SC

Jamie and family,

Having recently experienced the loss of a remarkable parent, I can certainly understand the extent of your loss. I offer my deepest condolences. May God comfort you and bring you peace during this time. "Though (the Lord) brings grief, He also shows compassion according to the greatness of His unfailing love."

Jamie and John - Trisha and I send our blessings on to you and your family. It is so hard when we lose a family member, but know that the Lord is with each of you at this time and will be in the future.

Doc Jamie, having lost lost my Warrior poet last year, I can only too deeply understand the void you now feel. My father as yours served in Korea and all I can say is I bet they have met, and are planning a fishing trip.

Lee Weathersby

A great man, whose legacy is so clearly seen in his children and grandchildren. Love to the family.
Maria Jacobsen, Charleston, SC

…the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job 1:21

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 7: 9-12

Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

And where I go you know, and the way you know.

John 14: 1-4

Have you not known? have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40: 28-31

From far-away I feel so close the pain of loss.
Walter Fagot Ghent Belgium

Please receive our heartfelt condolences on your loss. Michael and Agnes Leslie. Gainesville, Florida.

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

John Upshaw Downs - 02/07/1932 - 09/09/2010 - REST IN PEACE

To the Downs family, Clare and Burley,

John was a great man and will be missed.
Tyler hoover

JOHN UPHAW DOWNS - in memorium


I am tired of fighting....

The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led the young men is dead....

I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.

- Surrender of Chief Joseph
Nez Perce Tribe
Bear's Paw, Montana
October 5th, 1877

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8)

I love my Daddy more than words can tell, and will be with him one day in Paradise. --Bambi

Clare,Merle, and family,
I am very sorry for the loss. He was a very impressive individual, who was highly respected, admired and loved.

Merle, John fought the good fight. Duc

I really loved my grandad I hope that he is happy watching down on me from heaven. from, Ethan Ayman Downs,his grandson

John and Jamey (and families),

I am so sorry for your loss. The legacy of your father will live on in you and on the Porter-Gaud campus every time the Bell tolls. It is fitting that the article about the contributions your father has made to this school has just been published in the P-G Magazine. My thoughts and prayers are with you.