Viola Bowles Program

I can remember being 3 /4 years old. My Nana was my favorite, or really my bestie. I wanted to go wherever she went. If she tried to leave, I was following behind. One day she was going out the door, trying to leave without me knowing. Quick as I was, I ran behind her. Not reaching the open door quick enough, I ran straight into the door hinge! Yeah, it hurt! And I have the scar above my eyebrow to prove it. Five stitches I had to get and as I think about that incident. It's a mark that will forever etch my Nana. She is a part of me. I can hear her voice telling me it will be okay. Pain doesn't last always. I would call her once or twice a month and I would love hearing "Hey Baby!" with such excitement. My Nana was not a woman of many words but the words she did speak had power, grace, and wisdom. I miss that. She had a way of making you see the better side of things even if you knew there wasn’t. And her food?!! I mean, Nana was the best at it! I could go on, but I will end with this. I was her second granddaughter; I'd like to believe I was her favorite (wink) she loved me unconditionally. Whenever I needed to be reassured, I was loved, she made me know it like no one else could. I will miss her tremendously.

Tamika Houze

Being one of Nana's kids is no small thing. It's an understanding that you will be determined to live on your own terms. She set the stage for all of us to be US! I'll miss a long list of things about her but the main two things will be her laugh and her calling me Joseph in that iconic voice. Joe Bowles

I will never forget the long walks to Burger King…when Coco would decide to stop walking and force us to carry him. I won’t forget the many afternoons during Summer Break, when we would laugh at Murder She Wrote and Judge Judy reruns.

She would teach me how to crochet and afterwards we would play against each other in rummy and spades. Since moving to Texas, she has never missed a birthday of mine and did her best to be at every party. I feel blessed to have memories that have made me smile for years. Rest Peacefully Nana.