VILLA RICA, Ga. — (Editor's note: The video above this story is from 11Alive's 2020 report on Cowboy Don.)
Villa Rica is mourning the loss of a beloved community member, an artist known for creating and selling his latest work from a city street corner.
Justin Donald Dodson, also known as "Cowboy Don," passed away on August 26. Hundreds of people have since shared the news on social media, highlighting his art and their favorite memories of Cowboy. The community is also fundraising to cover the cost of services.
“RIP Cowboy Don. You were a Villa Rica icon. I was lucky enough to buy one of his pieces. Much respect,” one resident wrote on Facebook.
Others posted condolences accompanied by art they’ve purchased over the years.
11Alive’s Liza Lucas spoke with Cowboy back in 2020, as he worked on his latest creation.
“I was broke one day about five years ago so I wondered if I could sell some of my art,” Cowboy told 11Alive at the time. “I thought maybe I could make a business out of it.”
Perched on a rock, Cowboy proved there's no need for a studio - a street corner does just fine. The lone artist created a bit of a reputation for himself.
“I used to be a saddle bronc rider, that's how I got my nickname, and it just stuck with me," he said.
While Cowboy never had real training, he never stopped drawing, and in his later years, his art also turned into a means of making ends meet.
"I'm not trying to get rich or anything," he said. "Just survive."
“[Driving] down the road, I’d see him pushing his cart over the bridge, one day I found him in the parking lot selling art,” Johnny Taylor, with nonprofit Love Beyond Walls, said. “He showed me all his art and I was really inspired by it.”
“He is a little bit of a local staple,” Taylor, who also lives in Villa Rica, added. “Everyone knows Cowboy Don sells art at the corner in front of McDonald’s.”
Cowboy was 69. Service arrangements are pending; the funeral home notes that those interested in contributing can reach out to the funeral home for more information.