Shirley Bowers

Shirley Hall Bowers, 88, passed away after a brief illness at home on September 11, 2018. Born May 18, 1930 in Jacksonville, FL, her family moved to Hamlet, N.C. in 1932 and then to Atlanta, Ga in 1942 where she met her future husband, J. Alfred Bowers in Sunday school at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church. Alfred and Shirley were married in 1952 shortly before moving to Augusta, Ga so Alfred could attend the Medical College of Georgia.

While in Augusta, Shirley gave birth to the couple’s first 2 children, John and Alison. The family then moved to Memphis, TN for Alfred’s medical residency.

In 1961 the Bowers moved to Jacksonville Beach and settled in as Alfred joined Children’s Medical Group as a practicing pediatrician.

Between 1962 and 1964 Shirley’s children, Suzanne and David were born. The family became early members of the fledgling Palms Presbyterian Church where Shirley was the first superintendent of the Sunday school program.

Shirley put precise effort into planning the details of their next home in Ponte Vedra, a home in which the family resided for 45 years.

One of her greatest pleasures was researching her family tree, eventually tracing her roots back to the English monarchy as far back as the ninth century. She also self-taught herself about the history of the Native American Indians, being recognized by the Florida Historical Society for her writing and speaking abilities on the subject of Native American Floridians and others.

Shirley, an only child, is predeceased by her parents Emory and Susie Hall. Survivors include her husband J. Alfred Bowers, M.D., children John Bowers, Alison Bowers Findlay, Suzanne Shaw (Don) and David Bowers, grandchildren Mallory Findlay, Caitlin Slotnick, Andrew Shaw, Bob Bowers, Preston Shaw, Billy Bowers, and Annie Bowers, along with several cousins.

The memorial service will be held at Palms Presbyterian Church on Friday, September 28 at 2:00 p.m. Her cremated remains will be interred in a private family service in the church’s columbarium. In honor of Shirley’s role as the first Sunday school superintendent at her church, you can make a gift to “Palms Presbyterian Youth Group” for their missions. Gifts in Shirley’s memory may be to Palms Presbyterian Youth Group in recognition of her role as the first Sunday School Superintendent.  Checks may be made payable to Palms Presbyterian Church with “Shirley Bowers Memorial” written in the memo line and mailed or delivered to: 3410 3rd Street South, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250. Flowers are welcome as well.