Last weekend, Bowdon lost a prominent resident, musician and businessman.

Keith Lipham of Bowdon died Dec. 7 at the age of 38, leaving behind his wife, Pam, four children and numerous family members and friends. Lipham, a graduate of the University of West Georgia and Mercer School of Pharmacy, was the owner of Bowdon Pharmacy. He was also a member of the Bowdon Sertoma Club and Bowdon Baptist Church.

But what people remember most about Lipham will not be the clubs and community organizations; according to friends and family, Lipham will be remembered for the person he was and the lives he touched.

At Lipham’s funeral on Monday, Dr. Ron Huggins, former pastor of Bowdon Baptist Church, said that Lipham aided his community by providing families with the medications they needed and by employing many local residents. He described Lipham as a kind, intelligent individual with an overwhelming love for people.

“I will forever be grateful for the impact of his life upon mine,” Huggins said.

Bowdon Pharmacy Store Manager Kenny Akins said he was a close friend of Lipham’s.

“I would definitely classify him as one of my best friends,” he said.

Akins said Lipham bought the pharmacy in 1995 and worked hard to build up business. Akins, who has worked at the pharmacy for the last eight years, said Lipham would do anything in his power to help the people around him.

“I never saw him not love somebody and not care for somebody in some way,” Akins said.

Marty Johnson, another of Lipham’s friends and co-worker, said Lipham was different from most medical professionals in his willingness to listen to his customers.

“To me personally, he was a good friend and a good employer, and I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to work with or for,” Johnson said. “And I think all the other employees felt the same way, and I think we’re all going to miss him a lot.”

Johnson said that one of the things he respected most about Lipham was his generosity, both with his time and his money. Johnson said Lipham actively supported numerous churches and the Bowdon community at large.

“He touched a lot more lives than maybe he even realized ... that’s what I’m coming to find out,” Johnson said.

Aside from being a prominent local pharmacist and businessman, Lipham was also known around Bowdon for his love of music. Huggins said that Lipham was active in the Bowdon Baptist Church choir for many years and enjoyed teaching young people in the community to play guitar.

Lipham’s long-time friend Phil Coley, who performed James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” at Lipham’s funeral, said that Lipham had played with several bands throughout the years. Coley said that Lipham played acoustic guitar and enjoyed listening to artists such as James Taylor, The Dave Matthews Band and Simon and Garfunkel.

“I’ve never seen anybody so interested in music as he was,” Coley said.

Coley said that one unique thing Lipham brought to Bowdon was Coffee 101, a coffee shop that closed in August. Coley said he was both the first and the last artist to play at Coffee 101, but Lipham himself would sometimes play there as well.

“It’s just like Bowdon had a little music showcase for about a year there ... It was real intimate and just a lot of fun,” he said.

Though Lipham is gone, his influence on his family, his friends and the Bowdon community is sure to linger.

“He brought his bright smile and personality and enthusiasm to Bowdon,” Coley said. “He was just enthusiastic about everything he got into. Everything he did he just did with gusto.”