Obituary  Melvin Leroy (Bill) Bowman was born December 13, 1955, in Sumter to the late Gussie Mae Johnson and Willie Johnson. Melvin attended Sumter County public schools and graduated from Lincoln High school in 1974. He enlisted in the US army and where he had an honorable discharge.    In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Essie Mae Sessions and Michelle Johnson and a brother, Iraseal Larry Bowman. He departed this life on Sunday, December 26, 2021, in Sumter. Melvin leaves to cherish his memories; four sisters, Joyce Woods and Nellie Ann (Joseph) Ramirez both of Sumter SC; Mattie Washington and Janie Johnson (Tonya) Herron both of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; one brother, Sammie Lee Bowman of Sumter, SC; four aunts, Minnie Brooks, Maggie Rose, and Anna (Leroy) Green of Sumter SC and Carolyn Green of Dalzell, SC; uncle, Leroy Rose of Sumter, SC; a special friend, Marie Oliver, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.   To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Melvin, please visit our floral store.