Hope in The Face of Adversity: NGU AD shares Story of Triumph and Tragedy
Posted on: February 20, 2026
The center field wall on the baseball field at Tupelo Christian Preparatory School in Belden, Mississippi now bears the name of Jennifer Lowrey.
For Will Lowrey, who currently serves as North Greenville University’s athletic director, it’s a reminder of great triumph and championship performances, how to have faith during difficult seasons, and where to find hope in the face of adversity.
“Jennifer and I got to experience a marriage like many people don’t,” Will said. “We knew better than to take anything for granted.”
“Whenever there were tough times or we would be in an argument about something, we would let it go,” he said. “Love really did conquer all for us. Our marriage was shorter than most, but I feel like we got to experience it as God intended.”
Married in 2010, Will and Jennifer were immediately faced with trials related to her diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
“We got married and six months later, she needed a double lung transplant,” Will recalled. “As all of that was happening, I started looking for a job closer to her family because I knew she would want them there for support.”
That’s when Will found Tupelo Christian Prep, beginning his eight-year tenure with the school as a part-time algebra teacher and a baseball coach. As time went on, his role progressed and he began serving as the school’s development director, helping with fundraising. His efforts ultimately led to a new baseball field being constructed in 2013.
The play on the field was improving as well. Tupelo Christian Prep went from a team producing strong seasons each year, to a championship contender. In 2016, TCPS took home a state title.
“We had several good teams through the years,” Will said. “The 2016 team was not near as talented as some of the other teams we had, but they were excellent as a team. They pulled together in tough times and kept fighting.
“On that team, there were 3 or 4 members that lost someone close to them,” he said. “For us to all share that memory from 2016 is a special moment to remember. Obviously, it goes way beyond winning a state championship in baseball.”
Away from the field, Jennifer’s health struggles continued.
Her lung transplant occurred in 2011, and in 2016, the doctors informed her that another transplant would be necessary due to rejection. The second transplant occurred in 2021, and shortly after, she was diagnosed with metastatic cancer.
“We knew when the cancer hit that it wouldn’t be long,” Will said. “It was a very difficult time.”
Will recalled seeking the Lord for comfort during the darkness.
“I remember driving back from Duke medical one trip and I was determined to get closer to God than I ever had. I wanted to hear him, experience him in whatever way possible,” he said. “I had to ask a lot of tough questions and get the answers. Walking through something like that, you ask yourself, ‘What am I really doing here?’ The answer, for me, was to glorify God.”
In March of 2024, Jennifer passed away.
“I think about Scripture when it talks about Jesus being there for the weak. I really saw God around every corner during that time,” Will said.
“God gave her supernatural strength,” he said. “Throughout all the adversity, she was able to let her light shine.”
Just two years after his wife’s passing, Will said he has gained perspective that not many get to see.
“The reason I am not a mess is because I know this place is temporary,” he said. “I know that she’s not hurting. I know she lived a fantastic life that was all about giving to others. All of us, at the end of our time, can only hope that we are remembered not for who we are or what we’ve done, but how we pointed back toward the kingdom.
“That’s why I feel uniquely qualified to lead the athletic program at North Greenville,” Lowrey said. “We’re at an institution with a strong Christian worldview, and I want to make sure glorifying God is of utmost importance to us.”
For those walking through similar journeys or seasons of trials, Will offers one piece of advice.
“Without Christ there is no hope,” he said.
“We try to make this place our heaven. We try to pack it full of things and hold on to everything we have and all the people we love. But scripture tells us that heaven is going to be so much better. The only way you can have that living hope is by holding on to Christ and what he did for us. Sometimes that’s hard to comprehend or accept that until you walk through some adversity. But in Christ, there is hope,” Will said.
Surrounded by Jennifer’s family, Will delivered the first pitch at Tupelo Christian Prep’s game on Friday night—a tribute to his wife’s relentless fight and her unwavering love for the TCPS community.
