Bessie Mae McNeil Bowman was born on November 12, 1952, to the late Otis and Bernice McNeil in McCall, South Carolina. Bessie passed away on August 28, 2008 in Winston-Salem, NC. She was preceded in death, in addition to her parents, her husband, James Bowman, Sr.

Bessie worked for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System until her health failed. Bessie was a devoted member of True Temple Holiness Church of God, where she served faithfully for 19 years. She was a dedicated Usher for 17 years until her health failed. Bessie loved God and her fellowman.

She leaves to celebrate her life six sons, Roger and Lloyd McNeil, Michael, Curtiss, James Jr., and Eric Dodd; three daughters; Bessie McNeil, Linda and Brenda Dodd; one step daughter, Joyce McNeil all of Winston-Salem; two sisters, Margaret McKay, and Carolyn (Roberto) Patino; six brothers, James Tedder of Bronx, NY, Otis Jr., Roosevelt, Frankie, Elijah (Jeana), and Leevon McNeil all of Winston-Salem; seven grandchildren, Lewis, Jamie, Amanda, Eddie, McKensie, Tyesha, and Samuel McNeil; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, her True Temple Church Family and a close friend and confidant, her Co Pastor Evangelist Shirley Gaither.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at Russell Funeral Home Chapel with Apostle Wallace Gaither officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 12:30pm until 1:00pm on Tuesday at the Chapel.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Wake Forest University Cancer Center and the staff at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Center.