Frentorish ‘Tori’ Bowie

Frentorish “Tori” Bowie was born on August 27, 1990. She was the eldest of two daughters born to Dennis Smith. She and her sister Tamarra were adopted and raised by their grandmother the late Mrs. Bobbie Louise Smith in Sandhill, Mississippi.

She is preceded in death by her grandmothers Mrs. Bobbie Louise Smith and Mrs. Ruby Lee Bowie, her daughter Ariana Bowie, and two Uncles, Robert McDowell, Jr and Arthur Lyles.

She was volunteering at Eve’s House, which is a transitional home for women re-entering society after incarceration to fulfill her course requirements for her degree in Social Work at the University of Southern, Mississippi. There she met Pastor Sylvester London who ministered at Eve’s House Bible study.

Tori was a 2008 graduate of Pisgah High School in Sandhill, Mississippi. She gained an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Southern Mississippi. She obtained an interdisciplinary degree in psychology and social work. While at USM she won the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles in long jump in 2011. The following year she won silver in the long jump outdoor NCAA outdoor meet and a national qualifier in the 100m. Just to name a few of her collegiate accomplishments.

In her professional career, Tori began competing professionally in 2013 for U.S. Track and Field. She made her first world championship appearance in 2014. In 2015 Tori won the 100 meter at the USATF Championship. She placed 3rd and received a bronze medal at 2015 Beijing World Championships in Athletics. The following year at the 2016 Olympic Trials she qualified for the 100 and 200 meter for the 2016 Olympic games in Rio De Janeiro where she competed and won a silver medal in the 100m, Bronze in the 200m, and gold in the 4X100 meter relay. Shortly after, her alma mater Pisgah High School named the entrance road “Tori Bowie Lane” at the end of 2016. She was accompanied by her sister, Tamarra Bowie and cousin D’ Ante Grant cheering her on in the stadium at the 2016 Olympic games.

In 2017 her mother/ grandmother, the late Bobbie Louise Smith, received the “Life of Hope Award” in Seattle Washington to honor her for raising Tori Bowie. Also, in 2017 she received a proclamation from the City of Jackson for her achievements and the keys to the City. Further, in 2017 she won the USATF World Championships in the 100m hosted in London, where she anchored the 4×100 meter relay leading the USA team to gold.

In 2017, she was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and legislation was passed where she received a sign that says, “Welcome to the Community of Sandhill” “Home of Olympic Gold Medalist Tori Bowie.” In addition, she was inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi Hall
of Fame in 2022.

She loved her family and always enjoyed coming home to spend time with her family. Her family was her rock, and she knew if she needed some comfort, compassion, and good southern soul food she could come home, and the elders would feed her soul with anything she desired.

From 2018-2022, she spent her time giving back to underprivileged children.

She was attending Full Sail University in Florida since the Fall of 2022 until her untimely demise, studying music, because she loved music.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory and legacy of love the following: Her father, Dennis Smith, Sandhill, Mississippi; her sister Tamarra Bowie and her son Grant Harvey, Brandon, Mississippi; Brothers Patrick Lindsey, Sr. and his children Patrick Lindsey, Jr. and Jerseii Lindsey of Pearl, Mississippi and Dennis Smith, Jr. of Corpus Christi, Texas; and Calvin Berry of Jackson, Mississippi and step sister, Angelina Sims of Corpus Christi, Texas; and Aunts and Uncles Sharon Smith, Tammie (Alvin McCarley) Smith, Hilton (Angie) Smith, Ryan Smith, Timothy Bowie, Carl Davis, and Christopher Bowie; she also leaves her Great Aunt Mable Lyles, and her grandfather Sidney Smith, and Elizabeth Bowie.

She also leaves behind first cousins/ siblings namely: Corsha Smith, Tambra Smith, Phillip Smith, Jarmie Smith, D’Ante Grant, Ashley McCarley-Murray, Ka’Neshia Cheeks, Tempest Cheeks, Antone Smith, and Damian Broom and special friends Myreon Sartin and Ke’ Airra Jones.