• Date Of Birth: January 24, 1965
  • Date Of Death: September 2, 2021
  • Spouse: Dionne Ellison Gower
  • Children: Charlotte (Charlie) Ellison, Tara Thompson, Kingsley Gower, Chloe Gower, Destiny Ellison, Abbie Ellison, Landon (Bink) Gower
  • Occupation: Sales Manager, Wrestling Instructor
  • City: Panama
  • State: Florida

Darryl Allen Gower, age 56 of Panama City, Fla. Formerly from Buford, Georgia. He was of Baptist Faith.

Received his Angel Wings September 2nd, 2021 after a sudden illness.

He is preceded in death by his son Garrett Randall Gower, (Stepdad) Rev.Eddie Martin, Maternal Grand Father JT Buice (Papa B), Paternal Grand Parents Claude and Allene Gower (Big momma), Aunt Betty Bradford, Uncle Joe Gower, Mother-in-law Jamie Ellison.

He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Dionne Ellison Gower; Daughters, Charlotte (Charlie) Ellison, Tara Thompson, Kingsley Gower, Chloe Gower, Destiny Ellison, Abbie Ellison and Son, Landon (Bink) Gower; step-daughter, Samantha Bentley; Grandchildren, Aubrey Thompson, Mattie Thompson and Saylor Gower. Mother, Janet Martin, Father and Stepmother, Randall & Etheleen Gower. Brother, Terry Buice Gower, Stepsisters, Amy Martin, Melissa & husband Ken Alberton, and stepbrother, Ryan Martin wife, Joanie and children. His Maternal Grandmother, Betty Buice (Gummy), Aunts and Uncles, Gail and Harry Blankenship, Patti and Michael Waycaster, Debbie and Greg Reece, Mary Gower and several cousins.

Darryl was born January 24, 1965 in Gainesville, Ga.

Attended North Gwinnett high school where he graduated in 1983. During and after graduating high school, Darryl worked at several cabinet shops including his own dad’s, Randall. He worked at Granite Mountain Harley Davidson for many years. He also worked and managed at several Home Depot locations. Darryl also managed several car Dealerships here in the state-of Georgia. He was currently employed at Bill Byrd Kia in Panama City, Fla. as sales manager. Darryl was a Mason at Lodge 42F&AM in Tucker, Ga. Darryl was also a Shiner and a member of the Yaarab Temple.

Darryl was a United States professional wrestler known by ring name, Steve “The Brawler” Lawler. He was a mainstay of regional and independent promotions in the Southern United States since the early 1980s, especially in Georgia and the Carolinas, where he won many championship titles. Having wrestled for Deep South Wrestling, Southern Championship Wrestling, Georgia All-Star Wrestling, North Georgia Wrestling Association, Peach State Wrestling and Dusty Rhodes’ Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling. In later years, he appeared with other NWA veterans for the revived Georgia Championship Wrestling.

As a noted tag team specialist, he was a member of the original Bad Company with John Michaels and The Nightmare Ted Allen. He also had some successful runs with Dennis Gale, Dino Minelli, Bulldog Raines and younger brother Terry Lawler. He was one of the first students ever trained by Glenn Holbrook.

Several years later, Darryl became a trainer himself and served as an instructor for the Masked Superstar’s wrestling school and the Global Wrestling Federation’s training facility, in Georgia. Among his students include Buff Bagwell, Disco Inferno, Murder One, and Terry Lawler.