Mary Louise Bow

Tabor City, NC

Mary Louise Bow, age 98, of Tabor City, NC passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at Loris Rehab and Nursing Center, Loris, SC. Mary was born January 16, 1928, in South Fort Smith, Arkansas, to the late Rev. Jarvis Fonso Bow and Louise Carter Bow.

Mary graduated from Green Forest High School, Green Forest, Arkansas in May, 1948. Following high school, Mary attended John Brown College in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, for two years with a focus on religion. When her father unexpectedly passed away, Mary left school and moved with her mother to Tabor City, North Carolina to be close to her mother’s sister, Josephine Hodge. Mary and her mother joined Tabor City Baptist Church in 1951, soon after arriving in Tabor City.

Mary was a member of Tabor City Baptist Church for 75 years, where she faithfully attended every time the doors opened. Mary served as church training secretary and faithfully sang in the choir for over 40 years. At the time of her passing, Mary was the oldest member of the church.  Mary spent 18 years working for Dr. Charles L. Simpson in his office in Tabor City, NC, giving shots and helping with his patients, however requested. After working for Dr. Simpson, Mary became a

caregiver for her Aunt Josephine Hodge and then later for Mrs. Reece Burroughs. Mary was very active in the Tabor City Senior Citizen Center and, because of her love and care for others, became active in Meals on Wheels for shut ins for 11 years. Mary was honored for her work at the senior center with her own designated parking place with her name on it.

In 2011, Mary was honored by the Columbus County Dept of Aging for Outstanding Dedication to the Tabor City Senior Center. In 2011, Mary was also honored as The Outstanding Woman of the Year by the Tabor City Chamber of Commerce. In 2019, Mary was again honored by the Tabor City Chamber of Commerce with the Community Service Award.

Mary’s favorite things to do were to read her Bible daily, pray for others constantly and shop a little weekly.

Mary is survived by her niece, Helen McWhorter of Virginia; one nephew, John Alexander McWhorter III of North Carolina and two great nephews, John Alexander McWhorter IV and Lukas Sanders McWhorter. Mary is also survived by her adoptive family, Jim and Donna Smith and their children; Jenny Parker (Jeff) of Signal Mountain, TN, Adam Smith of Charlotte, NC; Caroline Vymislicky (Mark) of Longs, SC; Emily Smith of Bluffton, SC and Mary Beth Smith of Milford, Delaware; and the Smith’s grandchildren: Jordyn and Joci Parker; Kennedy and Luke Elliott.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her sister, Susan McWhorter and her husband John Alexander McWhorter Jr (Mac).

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Tabor City Baptist Church with burial to follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service in the church.

A service of Inman Ward Funeral Home & Crematory of Tabor City, NC.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Louise Bow, please visit our floral store.