The Descendants of Absalom and Sarah Anne Sides Book!
(Contributed by Nancy Burleson)

 I was showing the Absalom book to a friend at work in Charlotte when the friend, Alice Beidleman, saw the heading ‘Descendants of Daniel Rufus Bowers’ and recognized the name Zora Mae Bowers Harwood. Alice asked if she could copy the pages with the Daniel Rufus Bowers family on them so she could share them with her friend, Mrs. Harwood. She felt that Mrs. Harwood who was in a nursing home would really enjoy seeing information on her descendants published in a book. Mrs. Harwood enjoyed the pages so much that John and I decided to donate one of our Absalom books to her in the name of the BFRG.

On June 18, 2001 I received e-mail from Alice expressing that Mrs. Harwood wanted her to tell me how very much she was enjoying the book (under her new gadget!).She said she had seen so many names of people she knew and even some family she had forgotten. There was a picture of her parents with all the “boys”, but not the girls for some reason. Alice said the book has been a real “boost” for her-thanks so much!

Zora Mae Bowers Harwood is living in Asbury Care Center in Charlotte and is 92 years old! She has a machine that magnifies the pages so she can read them, as she is rapidly losing her sight. She is a daughter of Daniel Rufus and Maggie Bowers. She and her sister Pauline are the only two members of
the Daniel R. Bowers family still living. Zora was so
appreciative of the book that she personally wrote
us a letter expressing “how happy she was to find
so many names of Daniel Rufus Bowers family”.
In her letter, she even sent corrections so the
information we have would be totally accurate!

Recently we asked if she had any pictures of her or her sisters that we might be able to add to the Daniel Rufus Bowers family pages along with the corrections when we had the second printing done. Mrs. Harwood was kind

enough to share three pictures. One of Flora, Zora, and Pauline the three daughters of Daniel and Maggie Bowers from November 1960; one of Zora and her husband Pearl from 1963; and one of Flora & Cecil Moose on their 50th Wedding anniversary May 4, 1979. The enjoyment she got from the Absalom book should give all of us encouragement to continue these works to share with future generations.

Thank you Mrs. Harwood and thank you Alice!