Mary Ann Bowman

“I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith.”   II Timothy 4:7

        Mary Ann Bowman known to many as “Dow” AKA “Mammy” was the first daughter born to the late Esau Bowman, Sr., and Elizabeth Cohen Bowman on February 7, 1955 in Hampton County, S.C. She made her transition to her Heavenly home on December 30, 2019, Augusta  University Medical Center, Augusta, GA.

        She was educated in the public schools of Hampton County. Her true passion was decorating. She had a natural talent for decorating and fashion. Her love for flowers was known by everyone that knew her. Mary was a woman of a kindred loving spirit; to love her was to know her. All first encounters, left people thinking that she was “rough around the edges” with a soft heart and sweet smile. She never fell short of sharing words of encouragement, but she didn’t mind telling you how she felt. Ways of softening her up: give her flowers, red velvet, cheesecake or fruit cake. If you knew her, you knew she loved the Lord and a good gospel program. Wherever there was a gospel program, Mary Ann Bowman was there; with either her mama, Elizabeth “Bet” Bowman or her gospel partner Richardine in tow. Especially if Tommy Ellison, Troy Ramsey, Lee Williams or the Williams Brothers were in the area. If you were a neighbor or rolled up to her house, your knock better be louder than her gospel music. Mary Ann was habitual for putting others before self, especially her family whom she loved so much. The love she had for her children was undeniable and irreplaceable: her daughter, Mouchie (Daphne); as she often called her the pest, she adored. Her son Boomer (Marvin), her big baby as she called him was her supporter. Her son Pigg, whom was a true baby boy and her heart; spoiled to a tee. Her first grand, She’na (Krishe’na) was a secret keeper. She had a special bond with all her grands and great-grands. Her great-grand Kai, she called her personal nurse. There were countless others she called her children for one reason or another, that’s just the kind of motherly love she had.  

Mary Ann was preceded in death by: her father, Esau Bowman Sr.; brothers, JT and Marion Bowman; children, Jermaine and Ke’Owannia Bowman. She shared a devastating lost after losing her beloved son, Corneilous “Scooby” Barnwell in 2018.

        She leaves to cherish great memories:  daughter, Daphne Bowman, Orangeburg, SC; sons, Marvin M. Bowman, Furman SC and Kendrick S. Bowman, Estill, SC; special granddaughter, Krishe’na Connell; four additional granddaughters; eight grandsons; special great-grand- daughters, Trinity, Kai and Jakyla all of Orangeburg SC; three additional great granddaughters; mother, Elizabeth Cohen Bowman; sister, Gloria D. Graves; brothers, Esau Bowman Jr and Willie J. Bowman all of Furman SC; two aunts, Louise Williams, Lena SC and Fleeta Cohen , Beaufort SC; uncle, Ray Charles Cohen, Washington DC; five nieces; four nephews; six great grandnieces; five grand nephews; one great great grandniece; special cousins, Sidney (Roy) Bowman, Mary Washington, Janie Redenburg and Jaime Lewis; God-daughters, Ke’Owannia Graves (niece) and Valorie Becket; adopted  family, Virginia Wesley as her daughter and her children as her grandchildren; she loved Elder Shelia Ruth so much she began calling her God-mother; special friends, Calvin Murray, Evon Manor, Janice Ling, Robert Sanders, Janice Heyward, Richardine Wallace, and Linda Fields; many other cousins and she simply had a special place in her heart for anyone she cared about.

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