Effie Campbell Siegling Bowers

She was the daughter of Lucile Lebby Siegling Dwight and Rudolph Campbell Siegling, a lawyer and publisher of the Charleston News and Courier, in Charleston, South Carolina. Her father died when she was four years old, and six years later her mother married Charlie Dwight who was a loving father to her and grandfather to her children. She was Christened and married in St. Phillips Church of Charleston. Charleston Artist Elizabeth O’Neill Verner was her Godmother.

She was educated at Ashley Hall, Chatham Hall, College of Charleston, Sweet Briar, Cornell, and Columbia University.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband Lloyd Guyton Bowers Jr; her cousin “sisters” Lucile, Hess Waring and Frances; and by Janet & Howell, Lucy, Mary & Sims, Joe & Louise Bowers.

Lloyd and Effie met in Charleston during World War II at the St. Phillips Church Reading Room for soldiers, where she was a volunteer. They courted while she was in NYC getting her R.N. degree at Columbia Presbyterian School of Nursing. He wrote beautiful letters and shipped her Camellias from his mother’s gardens, carefully packaged in his sister’s dress boxes

They married on April 26, 1946 and settled in his hometown of Columbus, Georgia, where they restored and revitalized the beautiful historic house Dinglewood. She surprised many Columbus-ites when she had Dinglewood painted Pink, the color of many houses in Charleston!

They raised their six children there: Effie, Lucy, Sara (Jeff), Lloyd, Charlie, and Terrell (Deane). They had nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Their house was always full of friends, music, and laughter. One young friend commented that she was the only Mother he knew who laughed before breakfast!

She was an enthusiastic member of the Columbus community. She volunteered at the Columbus Boys Club, and she brought her children along with her. She was a member of the Guild at St. Francis Hospital, the Columbus Junior League, the Colonial Dames, the Junto study club, The Trinity Church Altar Guild, The Vixens, and Wonderful Wednesday. She supported the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, Historic Columbus Foundation, the Columbus Naval Museum, Trinity Church and many other charitable, educational and cultural organizations in Georgia and South Carolina. She was named Honored Lady for Historic Columbus in the 1990s for her contributions to historic preservation in Columbus. She received the Gumby Jordan award from the Columbus Symphony in 2002 for her continued support. She received Congressional Recognition in 2007 for service.

She was proud of her ancestors, many of whom emigrated to Charleston in the 1600’s, and she tried to live in a way that would honor them. She felt that she had inherited a code of behavior from them, including Honor, Duty, Generosity. She believed that even the plainest thing that was passed down one’s family, was better than the most expensive thing one could buy in a store. She gained a deep sense of place from living in extraordinary houses throughout her life: 9 East Battery and Wespane in Charleston, SC; Sans Souci and Pinecrest in Flat Rock, NC; and Dinglewood.

She loved her family, friends, flowers, her gardens, music, books, history, funny stories, good ideas, and a glass of Merlot. She loved a party and relished entertaining. She spent many an hour in her gardens, in the front circle, and arranging flowers at Trinity Church. She and her friends could be seen everyday laughing and walking around Weracoba Park. Perhaps she loved best having long lazy dinners with family and friends, that could last forever and yet were over too soon.

She had many favorite sayings in her later years: “You have to be good to make a hundred - because ninety-nine and half won’t do;” “Willy sat by the fireside, fell into the fire and died, by and by the room grew chilly, but nobody poked up poor old Willy;” “Amen Brother Ben - killed the rooster and ate the hen;” “Hold ‘em in the road;” “We have been blessed;” and “I will love you ‘til the end of the counting.”

She lived a rich full life, and met challenges and heart break with her head high and her heart full of determination. She was strong in her faith and comforted by her belief in God. She believed Family was the most important thing in the world. She believed in Forgiveness, Second Chances, and Getting On With It rather than being swallowed by grief or anger. She was a devoted wife and daughter, and cared for her mother and husband at Dinglewood until the end of their lives. She lived a Good Life and is survived by her extensive family and dear friends.

Her family especially wishes to thank her Angels: Lula & Henry, Sarah, Erline, Esther, Maxine, Jackie, and Ruby, who helped her “make a hundred, because ninety-nine and half won’t do” and Preferred Hospice for their compassionate care.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 Monday January 24 at Trinity Episcopal Church, followed by burial at Park Hill Cemetery. The family invites friends and family to share memories afterwards at Dinglewood. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends make donations to Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University or to the Historic Columbus Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Bowers family.