Funeral going is not one of my favorite past times. I missed two recently that I should have attended.
I knew and respected both Dr. C.O. Simpkins, and O.Delton Harrison, Jr. The last time I saw both of these gentlemen we spoke. And it was not that long ago. No excuses for not attending their recent funerals.
I did go to a funeral Saturday. For a man that I did not know. And I am glad I did.
Having followed Shreveport politics for 40 years plus, I was familiar with Mr. Bowman--the widely acclaimed "mayor of Mooretown." Initially I only knew of him as the husband of former Caddo commissioner and Shreveport council member Joyce Bowman.
I knew Joyce and spoke to her regularly when I saw her. I never met her husband.
After Joyce died I met her sons--Jerry Bowman, Jr. and Jerald Bowman. I followed both their political careers--Jerry on the Shreveport city council and Jerald on the Caddo commission.
I never met Mr. Bowman, Sr. --a barber who started cutting hair at age 9. But after several testimonials at the funeral and conversations with many people there, I learned much about this pioneer in the Mooretown neighborhood.
He was known as a mentor to who followed him into the barber trade. And to others who visited his barbershop.
He pushed voter registration and voting. He was known to ride the streets with a megaphone reminding people to vote.
Mr. Bowman Sr. was known to be a man who put others before himself. And had a sense of humor that endeared him to all.
Good communities are built by the contributions of "every day" citizens like Jerry Bowman Sr. Often these individuals are overlooked--or taken for granted. And this is unfortunate.