Bessie Bowman

Bessie Lena Johnson was a survivor. She was born in Conway, South Carolina on May 14, 1929—a few months before the longest and worst economic downturn in American history: the Great Depression. Her parents, the late Willie and Eva Baker Hickman-Johnson, raised six children, and Bessie was number two. She graduated from the historic Whittemore High School in Conway, founded in 1870 and was the first school for Black students in Horry County and one of the first in the country for Black students. After graduating from high school, Bessie moved to Columbia, South Carolina to attend Allen University, where she met her loving late husband, Bennie Bowman. Finding her way forward and clearing a path of priority and purpose, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education. After college they joined in matrimony and lived in Spartanburg, South Carolina (Bennie’s hometown) where Yvonne was born on the day after Christmas in 1950. They relocated to Columbus, Ohio in 1951. Bessie and Bennie thrived in Columbus. She worked as a secretary at the Columbus State School--now known as the Columbus Developmental Center--before she began her teaching career with the Columbus City Schools in 1965. An equipped and determined young woman, Bessie taught a variety of courses: math, shorthand, typing, English, and other subjects at several schools in Columbus, including Champion Junior High School, Franklin Junior High School and East High School. Before she retired in 1987, Bessie led the Occupational Work Adjustment (OWA) program at Centennial High School in Columbus. This program helped students develop work and self-improvement skills through paid supervised work experiences. Bessie arranged part-time jobs for students in the program that allowed them to work and attend school, while earning credits for job placement. With a servant’s heart and quiet strength, Bessie and Bennie always actively supported the churches they attended. Bessie served as the Church Clerk and sat on the Board of the J. Ashburn Jr. Youth Center while she and her family were members of Oakley Baptist Church. Bessie and Bennie joined Mt. Vernon Avenue AME Church almost 30 years ago where they worked faithfully until declining health affected their attendance. Bessie distinguished herself as an active Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Columbus (OH) Alumnae Chapter, always supporting sorority youth programs, before she was elevated to the Delta DEAR status. Delta DEARS are members of Delta Sigma Theta’s sisterhood who have been blessed to reach the golden age of 62 years. She was a 30 plus years member of Friends of Art for Community Enrichment (FACE), whose mission is to share the Art and Culture of Africa and African Americans, with the target audiences of youth and senior citizens. FACE is a non-profit organization that creates, provides, and presents artistic activities including Music, Visual and Performing Arts, Culinary Arts and Education. Bessie was very involved in planning, supporting, and managing the FACE budget as the Treasurer for many years. Guided by duty and dedication, Bessie and Bennie Bowman loved each other and their families deeply. They generously opened their hearts and homes to family and friends alike their entire lives. After Bennie’s passing in 2008, Bessie moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 2014 to live with Yvonne, Justin, and Nolan. At age 92, she slipped away peacefully on the 4th of January in Atlanta. Words cannot express how much she will be missed; and, as difficult as it has been to think about and see Bessie without Bennie, we rejoice in knowing they are together again. Bessie was affectionately called “Pansy” by her Johnson family and “G.G.” by her great-grandson, Nolan. She is survived by her daughter, Yvonne Bowman Wright; grandson, Justin James Benjamin Wright, great-grandson, Nolan Louis James Wright, all of Atlanta, Georgia; sister, Vivian Johnson Hudson (Lester) of Detroit, Michigan; and brother, Willie James Johnson of Columbus, Ohio. A host of cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives, and devoted friends will also miss her presence. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bennie Bowman; sister, Evelyn “Henry” Ann Johnson of Conway, South Carolina; and brothers, Hubert Hickman of Emporia, Virginia and Champell Johnson of Columbus, Ohio; and son-in-law, James Edward Wright (Atlanta). COVID-19 Requirements: Masks, Social Distancing and Vaccination required. The public viewing and funeral will be held on Friday, January 21, 2022, at Mt. Vernon Avenue AME Church; 1127 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43293. Public visitation will be from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm., followed by the funeral service at 12:00 pm. Interment will be at Flint Cemetery in Worthington, Ohio. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Diehl-Whitaker Funeral Service website. Click on the Live Webcast link on Mrs. Bowman’s tribute wall on the website on the day of her service at 12:00 p.m. to watch. COVID-19 Requirements: Masks, Social Distancing and Vaccination required. The family wishes memorial contributions as an expression of sympathy be made to one of the following organizations below instead of flowers: Alzheimer’s Organization Alzheimers.org National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov American Brain Foundation https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org