For we walk by Faith, not by sight: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:7–8

Heaven and earth rejoiced at the birth of Sadie Bowers , affirming the commencement of God's Purpose destined for her pursuit of Life. She was born to the parental stewardship of Eula Corpening Largent and Lewis Largent on April 3, 1938, in Morganton, North Carolina. Here, she received her formal education in the public school system, graduating from High School in 1956.

In the tender years of her youth, she settled her eternal destiny when she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Beyond her receipt of Salvation, Sadie lived her Life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ after uniting with People's Tabernacle of God in Lenoir, North Carolina. Here she served the Lord with gladness. With a heart to serve others flowing out of her love for the Lord, she was gainfully employed until she retired after 30 years as the Church Custodian at Saint James Episcopal Church. Fulfillment to her could only be found in her Faithfulness to God.

Two of the most significant high points in her Life, second only to establishing her personal relationship with the Lord, took place when she met and married Joe Bowers and when she gave birth to each one of her children. The longevity of her earthly union with her husband lasted 38 years before the Lord transitioned him from earth into His eternal Presence.

Sadie's earthly tenure life was one inspired by her passionate interest in gardening.

She viewed her earthly habitation as a tree planted by the rivers of water that God destined to bring forth fruit in its season. Bearing the scent and seed of a rose deposited into the soil of other people's lives, she was on a mission to promote the development of fruit in their lives.

Her love for souls expressed in her appreciation for people's unique personalities, made it impossible for her to meet a stranger. Affectionately known as "Momma Jean " to her church family, neighbors, and friends, her words to others were always on a journey destined for edification. She was fond of immortalizing memories for the past, present, and future generations by displaying photos of her children and being photographed. She was especially fond of capturing and receiving photographs of her grandchildren to line them up around the walls of her home. These were an ever-present joy transcending time that would never escape the universe of her heart.

Gratitude was the theme of her soul as she daily lived to give God thanks and praise for the rough and tough terrain, He brought her through along her Life's journey. Her irrevocable convictions bearing evidence of her invincible Faith could only be explained by the commentary of her unwavering trust in God. Despite the magnitude of challenges she would face, she was fully persuaded that God would take care of her.

If anyone wanted to know the secret of her contentment for living toward the greater Life reserved for her beyond this earthly realm, they would only need to consider her favorite scripture, the 23 ^rd Psalm .

Every night before she closed her eyes, she would read this Psalm to reinforce her resolve to trust her Shepherd for the Life He assured her would never end. She trusted Him for His provision, providential oversight, protection, preservation, and a permanent place to dwell in His Eternal Presence. The final verse of her favorite Psalm reads, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever."

With this immutable and unmistakable resolve sealed in her heart, Sadie Bowers exited the shores of this earthly realm on October 26, 2022, to enter the Eternal Presence of her Lord.

In advance of her earthly transition are those who transitioned before her, including her parents: Eula Corpening Largent and Louis Largent; her husband: Joe Bowers; five brothers; Billy Joe, Dock, Sam, and Charles Largent; one sister: Mary Michaux; and one son: Floyd Connelly.

Among so many who love her and will live to cherish her Life with anticipation of the family reunion at the return of our Lord are four daughters: Carolyn Harvey (Killeen, Texas), Victoria Cole (Lenoir, NC), Barbara Howell [Pastor Gene Howell] (Lenoir, NC) Trudy Connelly (Slidell, LA) two sons: Mark Connelly (Winston, NC) and Greg Largent (Lenoir, NC) 25 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews, nieces, extended relatives, and friends.

Now at Rest, may we rejoice to celebrate the conclusion of her earthly tenure and the commencement of the greater Life she has now in His Presence that will never end.

A homegoing celebration honoring the life of Mrs. Sadie Jean Bowers will be held Tuesday November 1, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in Lenoir; interment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Park.  Mrs. Bowers may be viewed Monday October 31, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Corpening Memorial Chapel of McCain Funeral Home & Cremations and 30 minutes prior to the homegoing celebration.

The service will also be livestreamed on the McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook page and YouTube Channel; the links are found below:

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mccainfuneralhome/

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu4qb7IT7sO-Kc0BRs05J-A