At Bowling Green School (BGS), where I first came to know Mary Madonna Foil Fowler, she was pragmatic and business-like. This was no coincidence with business education her bailiwick.
Mrs. Fowler, as she was known to me back then, taught business education classes at BGS for three decades. These courses were her forte, and thanks to her, they became mine.
Mrs. Fowler was a great influence on many students. We hung onto her every word. More on that in a minute, but first her background. All her life, my mother called her Mary Madonna. But to me, and scores of students, she was Mrs. Fowler.
Born in November of 1947 to Fernie Foil and wife Fannie Lee Simmons Foil, Madonna was raised in Franklinton where she attended Franklinton High School, serving as class officer each and every year --- concrete evidence of the respect her classmates had for her.
At the District and State Literary Rally, Madonna placed first in shorthand, typing and general business, confirming her future career. The writing was on the wall. This was something I learned back in the spring of 1979 when I, following in my teacher's footsteps, also placed first in general business at both District and State Literary Rallies. It was in no small part because of Mrs. Fowler. How well I remember her valuable instruction before the literary rally and wholehearted congratulations afterward --- one of my finest hours.
Returning to the 1960s, following her graduation from Franklinton High School in 1965, Mary Madonna Foil matriculated to Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) where she continued to accumulate academic accolades. She earned all As during her four years of college with the exception of 2 Bs in physical education. Again, with P. E. not our long suit, she and I were cut from the same cloth. She graduated in the top 13 of SLU in 1969, earning her membership in the Thirteen Club.
And a wedding was in the works. Madonna had been dating Dennie Fowler, the love of her life, since she was a fifteen-year-old sophomore. After courting for seven and a half years, the young couple tied the knot in 1970 following Madonna's graduation from SLU.
Having settled in her hometown of Franklinton, Mrs. Fowler began her teaching career at BGS in 1969. In a classroom kept in apple-pie order, she taught business courses, including general business and typing, for three decades. And it was there, educating a legion of students, that she was the senior adviser for many years. Mrs. Fowler knew how to separate the grain from the chaff.
Beyond BGS Ms. Madonna, as I came to call her, was civic minded and a dedicated volunteer at the Washington Parish Free Fair, toiling on a wide range of committees for four decades. With a can-do spirit, she got things done. Accordingly, she was honored as the Washington Parish Free Fair Volunteer of the Year. She also participated in the Flower House competition, entering her florid flowers and plants for which she won a parade of blue ribbons. The Fowler home and garden - a picturesque place - on Tenth Avenue is always decorated to the nines, particularly at Christmas, much to the delight of passersby. But Ms. Madonna was not glued to the house. From what I gleaned, she enjoyed travel running the gamut - from fabulous cruises to faraway places to afternoon drives in Washington Parish.
Ms. Madonna was active in Hillcrest Baptist Church where she was a member and where she served as the first church secretary. Always an educator, she also taught Sunday School and worked in the church nursery.
And she was proud of her community, working on numerous genealogy projects and researching the history of the town of Franklinton. Ms. Madonna sagely spearheaded the placement of the monument honoring John Bickham, the founder of Franklinton, on the courthouse square which property was part of the thirty acres he donated for our parish seat of justice and for our public schools --- land on which the town of Franklinton is situated today.
Her dedication to the project meant the world to me for John Bickham, born to James and Mary Henry Bickham in 1777, was my great-great-great-great-grandfather --- noted in my mother's Bible --- on my maternal Brumfield line. John Bickham settled in this area in 1799, living in Washington Parish until he died in 1821. While I declined Ms. Madonna's generous invitation to speak at the unveiling of the significant monument on May 5, 2012, on the courthouse square --- she informed that I was a direct descendant --- my husband Rodney and I were moved by the whole procession that spring day. Thanks to Ms. Madonna, it preserved our town's history.
And I remember her generosity. Ms. Madonna kindly shared information and loaned me genealogy books - we were often in cahoots. It was a blessing to be her student and later her friend. Ms. Madonna was a portal to my past. But lamentably, it was later than we thought. Passing away that past December at the age of seventy-seven, Madonna was a devoted wife to her husband Denny of fifty-four years; mother to her beloved children Neil (Shannon) and Dustin (Amanda) Fowler; and grandmother to her precious grandchildren Brylie, Tryson, Sadie, Lily, Brooks, and Teddy Fowler. They were the apple of her eye. And Madonna was the sister of Kerry Foil and wife Mary Reviere of Baton Rouge.
Waxing nostalgic, I well remember Ms. Madonna writing captivating columns for The Era-Leader in the early years of mine. Relishing her submissions from start to finish, I felt like I was in good company.
It was Margaret Thatcher who said, "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." Best not to proclaim it. And the Fowlers didn't for it was a given that Mary Madonna Fowler was a lady --- honorable and strong yet gracious and kind. I miss my teacher and friend already.
