She was born August 22, 1920 in Algiers, Algeria, in North Africa to French descendants of colonizers of the African continent. Sandra and her two sisters grew up on the Mediterranean Sea during the summer months and in the city of Algiers, during the school year. After graduating from the University of Algiers, World War II was responsible for events that would bring her to the United States. She met and married a young Army Air Force captain, Arthur Howell Bowers, in Algiers, after the liberation of North Africa. Following the end of the war, she traveled to the United States with other war brides on a Liberty ship, landing in Boston. Sandra and her husband, Howell, raised a family in Gadsden, Alabama.
Madame Bowers taught French to many residents of Gadsden for over thirty years. She taught at the University of Alabama Gadsden Center, Episcopal Day School, Southside High School, and private tutoring. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, professional teachers’ sorority.
Sandra and her family were members of First Baptist Church of Gadsden for many years. She will be remembered for leading exercises and being involved in the Keenagers group, traveling to many interesting places with her church friends.
Mrs. Bowers was preceded in death by her husband, Howell Bowers, Gadsden, her parents, Albert and Louise Durand, Algiers, and her sister Louise Garnier, Pau, France. She leaves behind her children, George Bowers, Decatur, Al., Jerry Bowers (Blinda), Southside, Al. and Michele Prewett, Roswell Ga., her grandchildren, Annette Prewett, Gainesville, Ga., Alix Banker (Chris), Southaven, Ms, Mason Prewett (Lisa), Roswell, Ga., and Daniel Talley, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, her great-grandchildren, Claire, Peyton, and Brayden Banker, her sister, Christiane Muser, St-Denis, France, and several nieces and nephews in the U.S., France and Germany.
Visitation hours are from 5 to 7 Sunday, September 25, at Collier-Butler Funeral Home in Gadsden, Al. with the burial service at Forrest Cemetery at 11:00 on Monday, September 26, 2016. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the educational fund at First Baptist Church of Gadsden. Mrs. Bowers’ niece, Rev. Barbara Brewi will officiate.
Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.
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