Leonard "DeWayne" Cowart

Leonard DeWayne Cowart, 75, passed away on January 25, 2026. He was born on March 2, 1950, the first child of Vernon and Thelma Cowart of Reidsville, Georgia. He grew up working on his family’s farm and graduated from Reidsville High School in 1968. He immediately went to work as a radio operator with the Georgia State Patrol and pursued his education at Georgia Southern College, now Georgia Southern University. He was the first person in his family to attain a college degree with a bachelor of arts in Criminal Justice. 

He pursued his passion as a Georgia State Trooper, serving, in his words, as a guardian of peace and justice. He was a natural storyteller, and his children grew up steeped in (heavily edited) stories of his adventures. Unfortunately, he was seriously injured in the line of duty when pinned between two vehicles during a traffic stop and the pain from those injuries plagued him his entire life. It did not, however, stop him from working in the field he so dearly loved. He continued to be promoted as a trooper and eventually had the opportunity to serve as an educator of other peace officers. His career led him to work with the University of Georgia as a law enforcement spokesperson, where he traveled the entire state promoting the importance of fair and impartial policing. 

Apart from his career in law enforcement he was a leader in his community, serving as a Tattnall County Commissioner, a member of numerous city and county committees, a business owner of Southern Hardware, and a farmer who found great satisfaction in raising and caring for his livestock. 

In his spare time he was an avid reader, devouring the written word at an amazing rate and imparting this love of reading to his children, Jeb and DuAnn. He was rarely seen without a book in hand. He was a wonderful father and grandfather and married the love of his life, Linda Green, in 1991. They shared a special relationship and spent many happy years together. 

DeWayne was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Thelma Cowart, his sister, April Cowart, and other family members, particularly his maternal grandmother Alma Purcell Iddins, with whom he shared an especially close bond. 

He is survived by his loving wife Linda Green Cowart, his son Jeb (Gloria) Cowart of Reidsville, his daughter DuAnn (Lee) Davis of Reidsville, his stepsons Shawn (Debbie) Sikes of Cobbtown and Shane Sikes of Reidsville, and six grandchildren: Mason Cowart, Ian Cowart, Cecilia Davis, Trip Davis, and Marina Davis, all of Reidsville, and Aubrey Sikes of Cobbtown, as well as many relatives and friends. 

His services will be held at the chapel of Low Country Cremation and Burial in Reidsville on Thursday, January 29, 2026, with visitation to begin at 2:00 p.m. and the memorial service to begin at 3:00 p.m. with Pastor Steve Miller of Watermelon Creek Baptist Church officiating. The family will have a private burial service at a later date.

 Pallbearers will be Monty Swain, Richard Smith, Jan Kennedy, Billy Murry, Bee Hart and Herschel Hart.

 Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Georgia State Patrol. Honors will be provided by the Georgia State Patrol Honor Guard. 

Low Country Cremation and Burial has the honor to serve the family of Mr. Leonard DeWayne Cowart.