Frances Smith Bowen Cothran

Frances Smith Bowen Cothran, age 90, of Greer, South Carolina passed into the arms of Jesus on Thursday, March 16, 2023, following a brief illness. Born in Savannah, GA, Frances was the daughter of the late Alve Roy Smith and Wyolene Smith Morgan (step-father Ned). She is predeceased by her late husband William (“Bill”) H.M. Bowen, her late husband Benjamin A. Cothran, and sister Virginia (Ginger) Smith Cook.

Frances is survived by two sons, Mark S. Bowen (Barbara) of Columbia, SC and Douglas H. Bowen (Susan) of Fountain Inn, SC, four granddaughters McKenzie Bowen Murray (John) of Taylor, TX, Keyton Bowen Wadford (Brett) of Antioch, TN, Hailey Bowen of Clemson, SC, and Lauren Bowen of Columbia, SC, two step-granddaughters Casey Cothran Muldrow (Todd) of Charlotte, NC and Darra Dane Cothran Brown (Scott) of Fort Mill, SC, three great-grandsons, and five step-great grandchildren.

Frances lived and worked for many years in Columbia, SC, as the Executive Secretary for Congressman Floyd Spence, where she personally managed his office and campaigns, as the Exec. Secretary for the Richland County Treasury Department, as the Secretary for SCETV children’s production of the “June Bug Show”, and as the Office Administrator for Timmerman School. Later, Frances and husband Bill owned and operated several restaurants in Columbia, including the first Orange Julius in SC.

Frances’s family and friends will remember her as a most loving mother and grandmother, an extremely fashionable woman in her dress and home décor, an avid gardener, and a person with unlimited creativity, technological savvy, mental astuteness, and wit. Frances was also a longtime active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Greenville, SC.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Fountain Inn Presbyterian Church, 307 N. Main Street, Fountain Inn, SC 29644, with the Reverend Whitney Moss officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church’s Parlor.

A private Interment Ceremony will be held at a later date at France’s home church of Christ Church Episcopal in Greenville, SC.

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