COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) — Affected by liver and bile duct most cancers, Mike Bowden couldn’t attend Russell County Excessive College’s Class of 2022 ceremony to see his son Michael graduate. However because of the additional effort from his household and college directors, a particular ceremony was carried out in Bowden’s east Alabama dwelling, the place father and son celebrated the milestone collectively.
Mike died two weeks later — and two weeks earlier than the official commencement ceremony. In emailed interviews with the Ledger-Enquirer, Jessie Bowden, the mom of Michael and the spouse of Mike, shared this story, together with college principal Tonya Keene.
Whereas speaking together with her sister, Jackie Sharpe, Jessie lamented Mike wasn’t wholesome sufficient to attend commencement. Sharpe instructed contacting a faculty administrator to search out out what might be achieved to accommodate the household’s scenario.
Jessie emailed assistant principal Christopher Baker and requested whether or not she might borrow a cap and robe to conduct their very own ceremony at dwelling. “And to push my luck,” Jessie stated, “would he contemplate handing a pretend diploma to Michael in entrance of his dad?”
Baker known as Jessie the subsequent day to provide her the excellent news: The administration agreed to meet her request — and make it a shock. “It was a staff thought to attempt to do extra,” Keene stated.
On April 25, automobiles began lining up in entrance of the Bowden household’s home within the east Alabama group of Seale. Mike was mendacity in a conveyable mattress within the den, the place an indication declares, “Bless this dwelling with love and laughter.”
Jessie introduced out the balloons she had hidden. Keene, assistant principals Baker, Nisa Guice and Samantha Shoup, senior counselor Akeisha Valrie and Michael’s automotive store class trainer, Mark Saxon — all carrying commencement robes — marched in whereas a recording of “Pomp and Circumstance” was performed.
“My husband was in full awe,” Jessie stated. Jessie informed him: “Mike Bowden, you might be invited to the commencement of Michael David Bowden Jr.” Tears welled up in Mike’s eyes.
“He didn’t know what to say,” Jessie stated, “however the look on his face was priceless.” Keene introduced Michael together with his actual diploma in entrance of Mike.
“I began crying and felt so humbled that we had been invited into such a personal but necessary second within the household dwelling,” she stated.
Michael declined to share his ideas in regards to the ceremony, however Jessie spoke for the household when she stated: “The staff that got here to our dwelling couldn’t have made it any extra particular.”
Keene defined why they did it.
“It was the precise factor to do,” she stated. “All of our children work arduous to satisfy the milestone of commencement, and our dad and mom/households are extremely supportive, they usually deserve to have the ability to rejoice with us.”
Keene additionally noticed the ceremony as a lift for the varsity’s administration.
“So usually we get caught up within the day by day stress of the job or how admin and academics are attacked through social media and society,” she stated, “… and it made all of that soften away. This, THIS, is why we do that. It centered all of us to our objective and mission area.”
Seeing his son graduate motivated Mike to maintain combating to stay, Jessie stated.
“My coronary heart was about to bust with pleasure, happiness and sorrow, understanding this was the one factor protecting my husband right here,” she stated.
Mike died Could 9 at dwelling. He was 64. After working for 25 years as a carpenter, Mike labored his final 12 years as a machine technician at Campbell Snacks.
“We had been collectively 21 years complete,” stated Jessie, who works part-time as an assistant at Elizabeth Robinson Surgical Clinic. “He actually was my soul mate. My coronary heart won’t ever be the identical. He suffered a very long time. He was petrified of leaving us. He wasn’t able to die. Most cancers stole him from us.”
This particular commencement ceremony, nevertheless, shone mild amid the household’s darkness.
“I do know he died a really proud daddy,” she stated.
