[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 73 (Monday, May 7, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E595-E596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN MEMORY OF MARY ELEANOR WIGGINS BOWERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 7, 2018

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, South Carolina last week 
paid tribute to the late Mary Eleanor Wiggins Bowers of Estill, South 
Carolina. She will always be cherished as a Southern Lady who lovingly 
served constituents at the U.S. House of Representatives Office in 
Estill.
  The following thoughtful obituary was published in The State on May 
4, 2018:

       Mary Eleanor Wiggins Bowers died at home in Estill, 
     surrounded by her adoring family after a long, rich, and 
     wonderful life. Born March 20, 1931 in Estill, South Carolina 
     to Robert Graham and Louise Folk Wiggins, she was the 
     granddaughter of Thomas Jackson and May Smoak Folk and Robert 
     Graham and Mary Crane Wiggins all of Estill.
       Mary Eleanor finished Estill High School as valedictorian 
     and attended Mercer University. She loved to jitterbug, once 
     dancing holes in the soles of the shoes bought that day and 
     always said she fell in love with her Corrin while ``cuttin' 
     a rug''. She married ``that cute Bowers boy'' of Luray on 
     August 27, 1949. She was the mother of Sharon B. Green (Roy), 
     Mayor Corrin Fitts Bowers, Jr. (Sallie) both of Estill, 
     Elizabeth B. Palles (Mitch), and Graham B. Solana (Mark) both 
     of Savannah. Grandsons include John Green (Deana) of 
     Jacksonville, Corrin Green (Hanna) of Pawley's Island, Andrew 
     Green (Elizabeth) of Aiken, Mitchell Palles III of Charlotte, 
     Corrin Fitts Bowers III (Abigail) of Estill, Joseph Solana 
     II, and Henry Solana of Savannah; three granddaughters, Mary 
     Crane Palles Orne (David) of Savannah, Louisa Bowers Beach 
     (Brandon) of Estill, and Mary Tippins Solana of Savannah; 
     seven great grandsons, Patrick, William, and Thomas Green of 
     Jacksonville, Corrin Green, Jr., and Samuel Green of Pawley's 
     Island, Marshall Beach of Estill, and Charles Orne of 
     Savannah, two great granddaughters, Sallie Sims Beach of 
     Estill, and Eliza Green of Aiken. She often stated ``My big 
     family is the best thing ever!''
       She loved the Lord and was a lifelong member of Lawtonville 
     Baptist Church, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, GAs, 
     Sunbeams, Young Women's Association, and led Training Union 
     for many years with Corrin. She served as W.M.U. president on 
     two occasions, was a Circle leader, served on two pastor 
     search committees, and was a charter member and chair of the 
     Lawtonville Historical Society. For years, she collected 
     children from around Luray to study the Bible on the family 
     farm.
       Mama Mama, as she was known to her grandchildren and many 
     who loved her, could bring a room to life with her magnetic 
     personality and gift of gab. Often drawing company with her 
     encyclopedic knowledge of the area's rich history and 
     genealogy, she welcomed all into her warm home with bird dog 
     under foot and food on the stove. A visit with Mama Mama was 
     always an adventure, as she might entertain by playing the 
     piano by ear or put you to work on a flower cutting 
     expedition, antique hunt, or tombstone search.
       Mary Eleanor helped establish the Hampton County Historical 
     Society, and was instrumental in saving both the Bull Durham 
     building and Estill's first town hall. She loved Estill, and 
     belonged to many clubs including Social Dozen (over 60 
     Years), Estill Music Club, was a founding member of 
     Friendship Book Club and Monday Night Couples Bridge, and 
     Thursday's big and little supper clubs.
       A tireless civil servant, Mary Eleanor worked 30 years in 
     the voting polls, Estill's first zoning board, the community 
     relations committee for the federal prison, and was a member 
     of the Estill election committee. Her penchant for politics 
     gave her ample opportunity to educate people on what their 
     platform ``should be''. She ran the U.S. Representative 
     office in Estill from 1987 until 2003 for Arthur Ravenel, 
     Jr., Floyd Spence, and Joe Wilson, maintaining her status as 
     a staunch Democrat in a sea of beloved Republicans. She 
     served on the Tricentennial book committee for Both Sides of 
     the Swamp as well as assisted Coy Kelly Johnston in the book, 
     Two Centuries of Lawtonville Baptists. During that time she 
     indexed Lawtonville cemetery, scrubbing down gravestones 
     along the way.
       She was predeceased by her loving husband Corrin Fitts 
     Bowers and her grandson, Graham Fontaine Solana. In addition 
     to her children, she is survived by one brother, Robert 
     Graham ``Bro'' Wiggins III (Vivienne) of Estill, one aunt, 
     Barbara F. Callahan of Warrenton, N.C., chosen daughter 
     Geraldine Brantley, four nieces, seven nephews, and special 
     cousin, Thomas Folk (Jan), as well as eighteen grand nieces 
     and nephews.
       Funeral services will be 11 AM Saturday in the Lawtonville 
     Baptist Church conducted by Rev. Jamie Norris and Rev. Noel 
     Cooper with burial in the Lawtonville Cemetery in Estill, 
     directed by Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home.

[[Page E596]]

       Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 PM at the home 
     located at 680 Wyman Blvd. in Estill. A reception will be 
     held at the home following the service.
       The family would like to thank her caregivers, Lottie 
     Garvin and Roger Bryant for their faithful service.

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