William Clarence Bowman, Jr.

William Clarence Bowman, Jr. July 18, 1971 – January 30, 2021 William “Will” Clarence Bowman, Jr., 49 of Wilson passed away Saturday. His funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Joyner’s Funeral Home, Wilson. The Rev. Walt Tyndall will officiate. The family will receive friends Saturday from 11 – 12:45 at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson. Known by most as Will, and loved by many family as Jr., Will lived his life always wanting to be in the center of God’s will since his salvation in June 1998. He strived to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s unctioning, prayed for wisdom in all his decisions, and always wanted to follow-through in everything he put his mind to; he lived by a “don’t quit” attitude. God blessed him with many gifts in art and music. He and Beck started Face Off Face Painting in 2017, bringing smiles to the young and old. He taught himself how to play the guitar, and passed that down to Lil Will. He loved education, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in IT and Technology in 2011, where that has led him to become the IT Manager at Barnes Transportation here in Wilson. He enjoyed teaching what he knew to the young generation and believed every youngster can live up to their potential if they put their mind to it. A true outdoorsman and survivalist at heart, he loved being outside, swimming in the ocean, camping in the mountains, hunting in woods, fishing in any kind of body of water, and traveling across the nation. He drove trucks in the early 2000s, calling himself a “people mover” and would take Sundai on the road with him every Summer; you can say she’s been to every state except Alaska and Hawaii. In Winter, he would take Beck and Sundai over-the-road, enjoying the warm beaches of FL while it snowed at home in MO at the time. These past few years, he and William would hit the road “vamping”, as they called it, allowing William to experience different regions up along the East Coast, visiting historical landmarks, and teaching him as much as he could about our ancestry. Last Summer, Will took him to his birthplace in MO; something Will said brought him sheer joy doing that together. As a family of four, Will loved exposing them to different travel spots over the years since settling in Wilson; from Niagara Falls Canada side, Statue of Liberty, many DC trips, Myrtle Beach, SC, Florida, and along the OBX seeing lighthouses that he knew Beck loves. Beck said any time Will would sheepishly ask her if she wanted to go somewhere she hasn’t been to, he made it happen! He was a down-to-earth, no non-sense individual; spoke with truth and wisdom, looked you in the eye, listened, and always had a smile; if he wasn’t smiling, he was laughing! He loved cuttin’ up with the family, and found joy making them laugh so hard, Beck would have to run to the bathroom! Will may have grown up on the East Coast, but fell in love with West Coast, calling CA his home. There, he met and fell in love with Beck 25 years ago, married in Long Beach, and began their journey as “one”. He loved his family with fierce protection, and a loving heart. He led by example for his kids, raising and nurturing them in the admonition of the Lord; teaching them through Bible study, going out sharing the Gospel of Jesus to the community, and to always put God first, before all and everyone else, and everything afterwards will fall into place. He lived as he believed…in his savior, Jesus! Our Heavenly Father, took Will home, peacefully in his sleep, and we’re pretty confident Will’s life-long prayer has been answered….Standing before God hearing those precious words from Matthew 25:21, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”! Rest easy now our brother in Christ; watch over your family until we see you again!! Will is survived by his loving wife of twenty-five years, Rebecca Bowman; daughter, Sundai Bowman; son, William Diego Bowman; mother, Patricia Williams; his brother, Monsieur Bowman and his half-sisters, Carlita Thompson and Glynis Bowman. He was preceded in death by his father, William Bowman, Sr. and his sister, Cyndle Bowman. Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.