John Zebley Bowden was born to the late John and Elease Bowden in Newark, New Jersey. He passed away quietly at his home Monday, August 16, 2021.

At a young age, he attended Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church in Newark, NJ, where he was baptized by the Rev. E.L. Chamblee.

He served faithfully in his church for several years, and he was in the choir. John attended Belmont Runyon Elementary School, Clinton Place Junior High School and he graduated from Malcolm X Shabazz High School and his higher education was at the Devry Institution. He was employed by UPS for several years prior to relocating to Greensboro, NC, where he worked at Eli Thomas Shoe Repair for six years. John worked at Auto Zone for twenty-five years. John was a quiet and humble person who enjoyed watching all types of sports on television. He also loved chess and he played it regularly.

Those left to mourn his loss are two sisters, Valerie and Vanessa Bowden of Newark, NJ, brothers Keith (Patricia) of Upland, California, Samuel (Michelle) of New Castle, Delaware, aunts, Ada Morgan (Heywood) of Greensboro, NC, uncle, Charles Bowden of Chicago, Illinois, three nieces, Asia, Michelle, Rashyla, one nephew, Elijah, one great-niece, Ahsoka. John also leaves to mourn his loss, three ladies he called his aunts, Frances, Doretha and Pat of Newark, NJ, a special friend Dana McCoy, along with a host of other family and friends.

A public viewing will be held on Monday September 20, 2021 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm in the Cassie Coote-Brown Memorial Chapel of Perry J. Brown Funeral Home. A service honoring his life will be held at Perry J. Brown Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday September 21, 2021.The visitation will begin at 11:30am and the service will follow at 12:00pm. Burial Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Services Entrusted to Perry J. Brown Funeral Home (336)-272-6109