Lillie Bowers

Lillie Ophia Bowers made her transition to her destination on May 6, 2018.  Her Legacy farewell services will be Saturday May 12, 2018 at Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, 204 S Fair Ave, Benton Harbor, MI with visitation starting at 11:00 am followed by services 12:00 noon.

 Lillie was born April 30, 1932 in Haywood, Tennessee to John and Ruth Cole. Lillie had two sisters, Georgia Coburn and Sadie Cole; five brothers,  John Cole Jr. A.D. Cole, David Cole, Chalmus Cole and Jim Cole. Lillie was married to Bennie Ford Bowers, Sr., April 10, 1948. From this marriage they had four children, Ruth Ann and Gloria and then they moved from Tennessee to Benton Harbor, Michigan where Bennie Jr., and Benjamin were born. Lillie worked at a neighborhood grocery store, Royal Blue, as a cashier for several years. Lillie attended Lake Michigan College and obtain her Nursing Assistant Certification. She worked at Mercy Hospital as such for 10 years. Lillie wanted a change in careers, so she worked at Modern Plastics for the next 23 years. She retired from there in 2001. After raising four children and retiring from Modern Plastics, she knew that she wanted to keep herself busy. In 2003, she became a Foster Grandparent volunteering at Martin Luther King school year-round for Benton Harbor area schools. She really enjoyed working one on one and helping children learn reading, writing and mathematical skills. Lillie had a wonderful life enjoying her children, grandchildren, reading, cooking, sewing, and doing crafts. Lillie is survived by her daughter, Gloria Smith, (Jeffery Smith, Sr.) four grandchildren, Jessica Snell, Jeffery Smith Jr., Jamaica Snell-Daniel, eight great-grandchildren; oldest son, Bennie Bowers Jr., (Velois Bowers) two grandchildren, Johnathan Bowers and Joi Bowers; youngest son, Benjamin Bowers (Archie Bowers) four grandchildren, Joshua Bowers, Olivia Bowers, Darrell Pryor and Victoria Barnes.

 Lillie was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Ruth Ann McGinnis and her son, Eric McGinnis

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