Obituary for Portia Bandy Bowen
Portia Bandy Bowen was born in Hayneville, Alabama on September 9, 1928 to Sally (Robinson) and John Bandy. She passed away peacefully on November 8, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Emmitt Bowen, Sr., their infant son, Willard, and her parents.
She left behind her children, Emmett (Carol) Bowen, Jr., Yvonne Lockard, and Patricia Bowen; siblings, Moses Bandy, Johnnie Phillips, and Mary McFadden; her grandchildren, Lakisha (Michael) Boggio-Bowen, Max Bowen, and John Lockard; her great-grandson, Eli Boggio; and many nieces and nephews.
She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She and Emmitt Sr. met in college and married in the fall of 1951. Their devotion to each other and their family shined through in good as well as difficult times. Portia was an educator in Alabama, Georgia, and retired from the Detroit Public School system. She and Emmitt moved their family to Detroit from Alabama in the 1960s and lived there until her recent move to Ann Arbor where her children could care for her. Her Church affiliations were Fellowship Chapel and Northwestern Christian Church where she served as a Stewardess and Deaconess in Detroit Michigan.
Portia lived and passed with grace and dignity. She was proud of her family and was happiest praising and praying for her children, husband, grandchildren, other family members and friends. She always put her family first and presented an excellent example of how to be a good, decent person by word and deed. During her last days she would call Emmett her "first born" every time he visited. She and her daughter Yvonne were very close and shared many interests and strong faith in God. Portia was a devoted and long-time caregiver for her husband and daughter Patricia, seldom complaining and always willing to do more.
She had a special bond with her grandson, John, as he spent a significant amount of time with her as he grew up. She loved hearing about Lakisha's acting/singing career and Max's Jazz guitar career and was delighted that she was able to see them perform a few times. She was so excited to meet and spend some time with her only great-grandchild, Eli (2 1/2 y.o.) during the last two summers.
She entered hospice care recently due to multiple medical conditions and left us peacefully. We would like to thank the many caregivers who cared for her over the last several months, most recently the Hillside Terrace staff.
Per Portia's wishes, she has been cremated. Her remains will be buried next to Emmitt Sr. at Mount Hope Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 17840 Middlebelt Road, Livonia, 48152, at a small family gathering on November 25, 2022.
A Celebration of Life is being planned at the Nie Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor, on December 29, 2022 from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Service will begin at 2:20 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.
She left behind her children, Emmett (Carol) Bowen, Jr., Yvonne Lockard, and Patricia Bowen; siblings, Moses Bandy, Johnnie Phillips, and Mary McFadden; her grandchildren, Lakisha (Michael) Boggio-Bowen, Max Bowen, and John Lockard; her great-grandson, Eli Boggio; and many nieces and nephews.
She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She and Emmitt Sr. met in college and married in the fall of 1951. Their devotion to each other and their family shined through in good as well as difficult times. Portia was an educator in Alabama, Georgia, and retired from the Detroit Public School system. She and Emmitt moved their family to Detroit from Alabama in the 1960s and lived there until her recent move to Ann Arbor where her children could care for her. Her Church affiliations were Fellowship Chapel and Northwestern Christian Church where she served as a Stewardess and Deaconess in Detroit Michigan.
Portia lived and passed with grace and dignity. She was proud of her family and was happiest praising and praying for her children, husband, grandchildren, other family members and friends. She always put her family first and presented an excellent example of how to be a good, decent person by word and deed. During her last days she would call Emmett her "first born" every time he visited. She and her daughter Yvonne were very close and shared many interests and strong faith in God. Portia was a devoted and long-time caregiver for her husband and daughter Patricia, seldom complaining and always willing to do more.
She had a special bond with her grandson, John, as he spent a significant amount of time with her as he grew up. She loved hearing about Lakisha's acting/singing career and Max's Jazz guitar career and was delighted that she was able to see them perform a few times. She was so excited to meet and spend some time with her only great-grandchild, Eli (2 1/2 y.o.) during the last two summers.
She entered hospice care recently due to multiple medical conditions and left us peacefully. We would like to thank the many caregivers who cared for her over the last several months, most recently the Hillside Terrace staff.
Per Portia's wishes, she has been cremated. Her remains will be buried next to Emmitt Sr. at Mount Hope Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 17840 Middlebelt Road, Livonia, 48152, at a small family gathering on November 25, 2022.
A Celebration of Life is being planned at the Nie Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor, on December 29, 2022 from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Service will begin at 2:20 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.