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Obituary For Ollie M. (McClain) Bowens
Carter Funeral Home announces the transition of Mrs. Ollie Mae Bowens,87, of Midway, Alabama.
Born November 27, 1929, Mrs. Bowens transitioned into eternity October 3, 2017 in Illinois.
Celebration of Life Services will be held Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 12:00 noon from the sanctuary of the Shiloh AME Church of the Mt. Andrew. Community, Clayton, Alabama. The pastor, Rev. Cynthia L. Johnson will officiate all services.
The eulogy will be delivered by the Rev. James Person.
Interment will follow in the Marianna AME Cemetery, Clayton, Alabama.
Mrs. Bowens will lie in repose at the church one hour prior to Celebration of Life Services.
Visitation for family and friends will be held Friday, October 13, 2017 from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Carter Funeral Home.
Ollie M. (McClain) Bowens was born November 27, 1929 to the late Philemon and Sylvania (Livingston) McClain. To this union eight (8) children were born. Ollie was the 8th and last one. Her parents, three brothers, four sisters preceded her in death. Ollie joined Shiloh A.M.E. Church at a young age. She worked as a usher; taught primary Sunday School; and sang in the choir. Ollie was a kind and loving person who would help anybody anyway that she could. She will be greatly missed by all that knew her. She was united in holy matrimony to Sherman Bowens on October 19, 1947. To this union eight (8) children were born. Her husband and one son also preceded her in death. She received her education in Alabama School System, first through the eighth grade at the McClain School in Mt. Andrews, Alabama. She continued her education in Chicago, Illinois at the Institute School of Nursing where she received her LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), and worked for Illinois Masonic Hospital for many years. She went on to work for the State of Illinois as an ESS in the Labor Department for 25 years until she retired in 1985. In 1962, Ollie organized a family Gospel group at the home of her cousin Princella who also took part in getting the group together. The group consisted of two brothers: Sherman and James C. Bowen, their wives: Ollie and Walta M., Princella, her husband: Horace Joseph. The name of the group was “Holy Chimes Gospel Singers”. There was another cousin: Vera Underwood, who also sang in the group who passed on. Ollie and Sherman sang with the group for 24 years before moving back to Alabama. They continued to sing together, and also sang with other groups. Ollie sang with “Midway Community Singers” for 12 years, then organized the “B & B” Gospel Singers, singing with them for 11 years. Ollie returned to Chicago, Illinois and rejoined the “Holy Chimes” and sang with them until shortly before she passed.
She leaves to cherish her memories, 5 sons: a devoted son, Curtis (Earlene) Bowens of South Holland, IL., Herman (Yvonne) Bowens of Chicago, IL., (Raqasim 32X) Ralph D. Bowens of Tucson, AZ., Shannon (Cherry) Bowens of Dolton IL., Aaron (Sara) Bowens of Guadalupe, AZ.; 2 daughters: Alice Blake of Dolton, IL. And Brenda D. Relf of South Holland, IL.; 10 grandchildren, 6 boys: Gyasi (Bobbi) and David (Dominique) Bowens of Chicago, IL., Aaron J. Bowens of Rio Rancho, NM., Deshaun Smith of Chicago, IL., Michael Bond of Dolton, IL. And Michael A. Bowens of Phoeniz, AZ. 4 granddaughters: Mickell Blake of Dolton, IL., LaNai Bowens of Phoenix, AZ., Kandace (Darryl) Campbell of Philadelphia, PA. and Krystal Bowens of Dolton, IL.; 7 great-grandchildren: 6 girls, 3 boys: Alijah Bowens of Phoenix, AZ., Shaniah and Mekiah Bowens of South Holland, IL., Brielle and Brookelyn Bonds of Dolton, IL., Taylor Bowens of Chicago, IL., Davion and Tristan Bowens of Chicago, IL. And Aidan Campbell of Philadelphia, PA.; one sister-in-law: Walta M. Bowens of Chicago, IL. who is my sister and a close friend; “we sang together for 50 years”; 16 nieces, three of them were real close to me; Lucille Walker, “you are very special, an angel in disguise…. Thank you for always being there with a listening ear, a caring smile, and a giving heart.”; Lucille Lee and Jessie M. Thomas, “who were there when I needed them. Thank you all so much.” 20 nephews, two who called me once or twice a month; Grady (Bow), George Williams who passed on, and Emmett McClain. There are many great nieces and nephews, as well as, great-great nieces and nephews; a host of cousins, the late Annie Pearl Williams) who would travel with me to Alabama; the late Ervin McClain (Boaty), we would talk on a regular basis; Betty Y. Davis, who always made room for me to travel with them on special occasions. She was my “little sister” and the late Emma L. (Billie), we grew up in the same house as sisters. There are many other special cousins, friends, and relatives. I just can’t name them all. My 3 god-children: Tina (Tina Bug) Knight of Richmond, VA; Stan (Duke) Higgins of Chicago, IL and Clark (Smokey) Morgan of Tinley Park, IL
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