Bessie L. Bowen, age 88, of Alma passed away Monday, February 3rd at the Bacon County Hospital after an extended illness. She was a native of Bacon County and daughter of the late Staten Andrew Carter and Mattie Simmons Carter. Bessie was preceded in death by her husband Woodrow Franklin Bowen, two sons, Warren and Charles Bowen, two brothers, Doyce and Dennis Carter, a sister, Beatrice Young and a granddaughter, Bernadine Bowen. She was a member of Big Creek Baptist Church and retired from the Bacon County School System after 20 years of service.

Survivors include two sons, Glenn Bowen (Frances) of McDonough, Ga. and Gerald Bowen (Dianne) of Augusta, Ga., three daughters, Linda Peacock and Susan Ellis (Thomas) of Alma and Marie Coffey (Patrick) of Rome, Ga., a sister-in-law, Opal Carter of Port Wentworth, Ga., fourteen grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 6th at 11:00 AM at Big Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Bill Stone and Rev. David Miller officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The body will be carried to the church at 10:00 AM to lie in state. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 PM.

Active pallbearers will be Lesley Peacock, Brian Coffey, Kevin Ellis, Phil Carver, Jonathan Blair and James MacNamara. Honorary pallbearers will be; Women's Senior Adult Sunday School Class.

Crosby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.