Thea Bowman  was a Roman Catholic Religious Sister, teacher, and scholar who made a major contribution to the ministry of the Catholic Church toward her fellow African American.  She became an evangelist among her people, assisted in the production of an African American Catholic hymnal, and was a popular speaker on faith and spirituality in her final years. She helped found the National Black Sisters Conference to provide support for African-American women in Catholic religious institutes.  Bowman has been designated a Servant of God.