Mrs. Selmah Yates Bowen

Selmah Margaret Yates Bowen, of Winder and Franklin, a loving mother, went to her heavenly home on Thursday, January 1, 2026 at the age of 92. 

Born on December 29, 1933 on Alabama Road in Heard County, Georgia. She always said her father had to go get Dr. Jeptha J. Nutt in a one-horse wagon with two feet of snow on the ground. Selmah was a Presbyterian by faith and was a member of Salem Church in Franklin, Georgia. People have gathered and worshiped at Salem Church since 1840, just ten years after the creation of Heard County.

Selmah graduated from Marietta High in 1951 and completed her nursing degree at Georgia Baptist School of Nursing in 1954. During her career she enjoyed various positions in hospital settings, Public Health, and doctor’s offices; Staff Nurse at Georgia Baptist Hospital, Assistant Head Nurse at Baptist Memorial, Nursing Supervisor at Newton County Hospital and Director of Nurses and Assistant Administrator at Rockdale County Hospital.

While a nursing student at Georgia Baptist, she met her husband to be for 32 years, Alfred “Fred” Cleon Bowen. They married April 21, 1955 but their union was cut short in 1987 with Fred’s untimely death at the age of 56. At this time, Fred and Selmah were living on a farm in Heard County. After her husband’s death, Selmah remained in Heard County, developing the timber farm and building a log home. During these 42 years Selmah left her footprint in Heard County.

Selmah worked for the Federal Census Bureau in 1989 for the 1990 Census Record, driving down dirt roads and meeting residents of Heard County. She also worked for the county government as Registrar for 10 years and part-time Museum Coordinator from October 1991 till 2001. Selmah, co-author of several books, one being History of Heard County published in 1991, has been instrumental in the restoration and formation of the Heard County Museum and the Heard County Historical Society, Charter member (1989). Her love of and preservation of Heard County history has made a large contribution to her community. She was also Organizing President of the Heard County Daughters of the Confederacy (1995); The Daughters of the American Revolution, Charter member (2000), of which she received the Woman in American History Award (2017); Colonial Dames, Charter member, and The Eastern Star. In addition to her passion for historical and genealogy research, she still had time for gardening, folk art, china painting, quilting, embroidering, cooking and much more. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and caregiver. She was proud of her family. Selmah was a loyal friend, always had a smile to greet you and had compassion for the sick and unfortunate.

Selmah is preceded in death by her parents Wheeler Monroe Yates and Alice Arvester Nixon Yates; sister Frances Jeanell Yates Gibson, and husband Alfred “Fred” Cleon Bowen.

Survivors include her three children, Catherine Elaine Bowen Warren (Dennis), James Gregory Bowen, Sr. and Pamela Leigh (Bowen) Kulisek, seven grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, January 5, 2025 at Georgia Memorial Park, 2000 Cobb Pkwy SE, Marietta, GA 30060, with Rev. Rex Johnson officiating. 

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the Heard County Historical Society, P.O. Box 990, Franklin, GA 30217, hchistoricmuseum@heardcountyga.com.

Maddox Memorial Home, Winder, is entrusted with the arrangements.