Macon County, Alabama (September 24, 1865 -July 9, 1934) age 69 yrs

Cornelia Bowen was an African American teacher and school founder. She was in the first graduating class of the Tuskegee Institute. She went on to found the Mount Meigs Colored Institute as well as the Mt. Meigs Negro Boys’ Reformatory. Bowen served for at least a decade as one of the trustees of the reformatory. She also taught at the reformatory, until 1923.  One of her students was Satchel Paige, who she encouraged to join in sports as well as choir. She was a member of both the state and national Colored Women’s Federated Clubs. She served as an officer of both organizations. She also was elected as the first woman president of the Alabama Negro Teacher’s Association.