Mary Ann Beall Bowen, 83, of Tifton died Thursday, March 31, 2011, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2011, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church. Dr. Wayne Roe, Dr. W. Ches Smith III and Rev. Paul Thomas will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Michael Bennett, Bo Bennett, John Hasty, Farris Dotson, Eddie Fresh and Lance Simpson will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Supper Club, the Adult II Serenity Sunday school class at Tifton’s First Baptist, kindergarten friends, Dr. Robert and Joyce Coleman, Dr. Joe and Bette Turner and Charles and Carolyn Massey. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 1, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Bowen was born on February 9, 1928 in Americus and was the daughter of Elijah Harvey Beall and Leta Merritt Beall, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, L. A. “Buddy” Bowen, Sr. She held a B.S. degree in Home Economics and was a retired school teacher, as well as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Tifton, where she taught Sunday school for many years.
Mrs. Bowen is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Sonny and Carolyn Bowen of Tifton, Sam Bowen of Tifton and Tommy and Teresa Bowen of Atlanta; one daughter and son-in-law, Leta Ann and Mike Bennett of Tifton; ten grandchildren, Michael Bennett, Mary Allison Bennett Dotson, Sarah Beth Bennett, Bo Bennett, Sammi Bowen, Mary Swims, Lauren Fresh, Anna Hasty, John Hasty and Chris Bennett; and six great grandchildren, Anne Dotson, Caroline Dotson, Tayler Bennett, Lexie Dotson, Lincoln Dotson and James Elliott Fresh.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Forward in Faith Building Fund at Tifton’s First Baptist Church, 404 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794.