Students and members of the Tallulah Falls School extended family met at Pitts Park in Clarkesville on Thursday night, just hours after the funeral of their friend and fellow student Stephen Daniel Bowman.
It was an emotional gathering on a night they should have been celebrating.
Stephen was buried just one day before his high school graduation. He drowned in Lake Hartwell on June 13 while at Boy Scout Camp.
More than 100 people turned out to honor the Cornelia teenager. Those who gathered in the park spent time remembering Stephen, or “Bowman” as many affectionately called him. During the candlelight vigil, his mother, Cherie, and other family members joined the students in sharing stories about Stephen and celebrating his life.
Bowman, 18, was an avid outdoorsman who excelled in scouting and school. He earned his Eagle Scout rank in 2019 and was a Presidential Scholar at Tallulah Falls School (TFS).
In a post on social media, the school described Bowman as a devoted friend who “infused humor into any gathering. He was an outstanding young man – his legacy of friendship and love of life will be remembered by all who knew him.”
TFS will honor Stephen’s life on June 19 during the school’s graduation ceremony.
