Gloria Joye Bowman, age 81, of Dillon, SC passed peacefully to see her Lord and Savior after fulfilling her mission here on earth on January 12, 2017, at McLeod Hospice, Florence, SC. Receiving of friends begins at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 21, 2017, at Dillon Church of God, 701 US-301, Dillon, SC followed by a Celebration of Life at 2:00 PM.

Joye Bowman was born in Lynchburg, SC on February 10, 1935, to Ben Gary and Bertha Mae Humphrey. She attended Southeastern University, Lakeland, FL, and graduated from Evangel University, Springfield, MO. She married Ernest Monroe Bowman on May 8, 1953, in Kingstree, SC. He graduated from Asbury College in Wilson, NC.

With her husband Ernest, for 15 years they served the Lord as missionaries to Guatemala, Central America. Later, she taught Spanish at Dillon High School and Latta High School. She pastored Christian Fellowship Assembly in Hartsville, SC and was a Chaplain and Volunteer for McLeod Medical Center, Dillon, SC. She also volunteered for Hospice and enjoyed ministering at nursing homes. She was a recipient of the Who’s Who Teacher Award.

Joye is preceded in death by her husband, the Reverend Ernest Monroe Bowman; her grandson, Christopher Johnathan Nunez; her dad, Ben Gary Humphrey, and mother, Bertha Mae Wood; her brothers, Richard Humphrey and Lewis Smith; and her recently deceased sister-in-law, Sylvia Nell Smith.

She is survived by her children: Gloria Bowman (Williamson (Eddie) M. Williamson); Deborah Marie Bowman-Nunez (Dr. Gregory M. Nunez); Sam Bowman (Jakelyn Bowman); two sisters, Margie Gray and Margaret Burrows, and one brother, Victor E. Smith; sisters-in-law, Betsy Smith and Carolyn Humphrey; and seven grandchildren: Johanna Hadassah Nunez, Patrick Ashton Williamson, Aaron Gregory Nunez, Alexis Eren Nunez, James Mark Nunez, Erica Brooke Williamson and Lainey Bowman.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Gideons International, Post Office Box 140800, Nashville, Tennessee, 37214-0800 (www.gideons.org). Online condolences may be made at: www.peacockfuneralhome.net.

Special thanks to all family, friends and loved ones who were with her during this time. Thanks also to her doctors, nurses and techs at McLeod Health and McLeod Hospice.