Mae Frances (Bowden) White

On Monday December 10th,1934, in Osceola, Arkansas at 4:15 am, Erskine Seedee and Ruby Mae Bowden welcomed a new “beautiful” baby girl to the family Mae Frances Bowden, she had such a beautiful smile, a beautiful mole on her itty-bitty nose and some precious fat jaws. She was the Oldest of eight children. 

Mae Frances attended Rosenwald School in Osceola Arkansas which was the only school in the area for Blacks, there she attended Kindergarten thru the 12th grade, she graduated as the Salutatorian of her class, the Class of 1952. At Rosenwald School she met her future husband Charles Edward White and didn’t even know it, she knew her future husband from kindergarten to the 12th grade, but they never dated each other in school, he was the basketball star, and she was the Studious Student. In 1952 her father Erskine, wanted a better life for his family of 10 and relocated them to beautiful Portland, Oregon.  

Mae Frances continued her education in Portland where she received her Nursing Training from Providence and graduated October 11, 1954. While in Portland she worked for Providence Hospital. On July 20, 1957, she married Charles in Portland, Oregon at Vancouver Ave First Baptist Church with Rev O.B. Williams. She had a big, beautiful wedding that her new husband requested, she then moved to Riverside, California where Charles was stationed in the Air Force and he was honorably discharged in 1959, they then relocated to Gary, Indiana. 

To this beautiful union two lovely daughters were born Chareice White and Chaunda Francys (White) Douglas. Frances was introduced to Christ by her parents and confessed at a very early age. She also introduced her daughters to Christ and made them read the bible often, Frances LOVED to Pray, and she LOVED PRAY for you. Frances always put the Lord first in whatever she did. Frances was a dedicated member at Family Christian Center in Munster, Indiana. She returned to Vancouver Ave First Baptist Church in Portland as a dedicated member. Whereas her family are members to this day. 

Frances worked in Hospitals and Nursing homes in NW Illinois and NW Indiana as a Charge Nurse, she Loved making people smile and giving gifts. She brought gifts for EVERYONE in her ENTIRE family, EVERYONE!!! She loved playing cards, Bid Whiz was her game and she enjoyed playing “Bridge”.  All she wanted to see was tables lined up, cards on the tables, food lined up, people partnered together and ready to play Bid whiz. She joined numerous of card game clubs in Gary, Indiana. She also was a member and co-founder of Club Family Power, a family organization which started in the 1970’s in Gary and then different family members started a Club Family Power in their city. 

Beside from being a sharp dresser and loving to shop. Frances also enjoyed cooking, dancing, interior decorating, and traveling “especially” to Portland. She LOVED having family and friends over to enjoy each other and family gatherings. She learned how to paint from her Daddy  and did she love to paint, she would take some spray paint and/or a bucket of paint and repaint anything.  

Frances was preceded in death by her Beautiful Loving Parents, her Awesome Protective Husband, two brothers: Erskine Jr. and Robert Sr. three sisters: Evelyn Burrell, Nancy Montoya and Leile Monday and son- in- law Fredrick Douglas. 

On Sunday August 29th at 4:15 am Mae Frances Bowden White exchanged time for eternity. She peacefully transitioned at her home surrounded with family and lots of love in Portland, OR. She leaves to cherish with blessed memories, two dedicated daughters which whom both took excellent care of her. Chareice White of Crown Point, Indiana and Chaunda Francys Douglas of Portland, Oregon, her one and only grandson who also took excellent care of her, whom she loved and adored Charlez EdwardFredrick Douglas, 7 step grandsons, Brother Lonnie (Sandra) Bowden, Sister Joann (Francis) Livingston, 3 sister- n -laws: Gloria Bowden (Portland, OR) , Ellner White ( Gary ,In) and Dorothy Smith (Gary, IN), special cousins Marvaline Williams (Chicago, Ill), Ruby Cager ( Corinth, Ms.), Dorothy Evans (Chicago, Ill), GeorgiaAnn Straughter (Gary, IN) , J.C Straughter (Gary, In) her Best friend from elementary school Flossie Hill (Indianapolis, In) and a host of nieces and nephews, great and great great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. These are all the special nieces and nephews that helped care for her Lynne, Lorna, Liz, Gerald, Kevin Sr, Ike, Kevin Jr, Kenin, Kevonna, Ta’Ryah, Eric Sr., Barbara and TaChelle.

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