Featured

M. Lisa Bowie-Moon, 56, Skyline Graduate Passes With No Regrets for Her Life

Published

6 years ago

June 3, 2020

Lisa Bowie-Moon was born on August 13, 1964, in Oakland, CA. She is better known as Lisa and Li to her family.

She is the second daughter of six between the union of Wilma Jean and John F. Moon. Both were from Monroe, Georgia and both are deceased, including their first daughter, “Baby Darla,” who passed shortly after birth.

Lisa had an interest in all that life had to offer to name a few, she loved and supported the performing arts. She played and owned her own clarinet, participated in the yearly Christmas Pageants, owned her own bowling ball with shoes, pool stick with case and did all kinds of ballerina performances. As a Skyline graduate, Lisa went on to acquire her AA from the East Bay Community College and then her B.A. at Almeda University with a major in Accounting. Lisa Mastered the art of accounting and financial competencies and statements.

Lisa met her future husband, Michael A. Bowie on July 19, 1983. They kept running into each other over the course of several years, always picking up where they left off, even after forming their union. At one time they worked in the same building on the same floor, but for different companies.

Lisa’s biggest joy and interest were the uprisings of the youth. She had a natural “motherly” gift of both wisdom and compassion toward bringing out the best in children. She helped rear five children, none of them were her biological children. She would up left the relationship between parents and their children. She had countless positive influences with children throughout her lifetime. Lisa had a heartfelt talent of giving a perspective that would maintain the growth and integrity of each individual child regardless of their situation and circumstances.

On June 8, 2000, Michael and Lisa made common law commitment to each other. Michael put her on the real property, Lisa changed her name to M. Lisa Bowie-Moon and each did a ring exchange. They became inseparable throughout the challenging conditions both collectively and individually, as well as their respective families. Coincidentally, his family was from Monroe, Louisiana.

In November 2012, Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer. She decided to go all organic and change her fast-food lifestyle. She acquired a team of holistic and traditional doctors. This was with the full support of her husband. Lisa never let cancer stop her from moving forward. She would never give the cancer power by saying “my cancer,” but rather “the cancer” or “the ‘c’ that should not be mentioned.” Lisa had fought and recovered from several illnesses, including an operation to remove 16 fibrous cells of various sizes. They were blocking her uterus and causing severe bleeding. This caused other related problems which she struggled with and also overcame.

On Nov. 12, 2013, and once the last child reached 18 in July of 2013, Michael and Lisa celebrated a reunion of vows and officially married at the City Hall of Alameda. The Mayor presided over the ceremony, four of the reared children, families, and numerous friends present. The City put the wedding on their website that is currently the most viewed. They continued with a one-horse carriage ride around Alameda and then to the reception at Pasta Pelican. The owner added special appetizers and salads beyond the agreed menu. There were volunteers playing the harp and guitar. There were students from Berkeley giving them a traditional “Mayan” spiritual union in “Aztec” costumes. There was a special cake with cupcake sidings presented to them at cost.

Afterward, there was a limousine ride to Treasure Island with picture-perfect evening weather. There was an extremely bright Northern Star looming over their heads. The scene looked more like a backdrop when they took the pictures together. Days later they set off on a 5-day cruise with a stop at their favorite place the Catalina Islands.

Prior to the wedding, they had an African Mindful-Drumming session with family and friends. The famous Kokomon Clottey from Ghana leading the session. He and his family had known the couple many years prior.

Lisa greatest business interests were in the field of accounting technologies. After many struggles in the employment systems, Lisa became proactive, innovative and highly influential, while surpassing demanding performance goals and deadlines. She then formed her own business called NMRK, Inc. She specialized in Quick Books and was quickly referred to as “QBQ”, Quick Books Queen. She became so popular in her area of expertise, that one company flew her to Long Beach. Then a helicopter ride to Avión Hospital in Catalina to straighten out their several years of neglected accounting. She received outstanding financial rewards, praises, befriended an East Indian woman who assisted her, and saved the hospital account for the company. Michael joined her on the second day of the seven-day assignment.

Lisa was rightfully convinced, upon study and actual proof within her own daily life, that All of these talents and more, were enhanced upon practicing “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo”. Lisa then joined the SGI-USA, a Buddhist Lay Organization and practiced in Coliseum District alongside her Myoho Brothers and Sisters. Over time she introduced her entire Family. Even her estranged relationship with her father changed for the better. He and her brother attended discussion and study meetings. Lisa gladly dedicated her accounting skills and resources to the SGI and their youth division.

Lisa’s last station of employment was a Senior Staff Accountant for ConnectED. The National Center for College students entering into careers and HS students entering into college.

Lisa passed and transitioned on Feb. 27, 2020, with her husband at her side caressing her arm and chanting “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo”, two brothers by the foot of her bed, and children coming from various parts of the USA rushing to her side.

Lisa leaves to cherish her memories: her husband, Michael A. Bowie, her siblings, Melissa Moon-Brown, Ursula Moon, Marc Moon, Lance Moon, Jeffrey Moon, Aunt Linda, Uncle Jimmie, Cousin Kris, Aunt-in-law, Romona Bowie-Mitchell, Sisters-in-law, Unikka Moon and Phyllis G. Bowie, Children: Chris Stevenson, Porsche Bowie, Anthony Bowie, Olivia (Livy) Evans-Pittman, Nicki Evans-Pittman, several Nieces and Nephews and numerous friends.

Saskia Hatvany

Posts by Saskia Hatvany

Related Topics:cancer City Hall of Aameda Oakland Skyline Graduate

Up Next

Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Resolution

Don't Miss

Marin City Opens Food Distributions Sites During COVID-19

Saskia Hatvany

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of May 13 – 19, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 13 – 19, 2026

Published

13 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Marin City Public Housing Residents Demand a Voice in County’s Renovation Plans

Representation has been a continuous struggle for the Residents Council, she said in an interview with the Post News Group. In 2014, the tenants took the county to federal court over this issue, and prevailed, resulting in an MOU that was in effect from 2014 to 2024, said McLemore. “Now, they are not responding to our rightful requests to participate. They are not giving us a legal justification for their position.”

Published

5 days ago

May 10, 2026

Oakland Post

The largest housing complex in Marin County, Golden Gate Village residents are for predominantly Black and low-income. Courtesy image.

Tenants say the County of Marin is ignoring federal law requiring resident council participation

By Ken Epstein

Marin City public housing residents say the County is illegally depriving them of their rights to participate in renovation decisions that affect the future of their housing, raising deep concerns over whether the county ultimately will find a way to displace them.

According to regulations established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Marin City public housing residents have the right to organize, elect resident councils, and hold public housing agencies accountable for involving them in management decisions.

Without resident participation, the Board of Housing Commissioners, made up of the five Marin County Board of Supervisors and two resident comissioners, has approved a $226 million project. The plan calls for renovation of the 296 units in Golden Gate Village (GGV) and focuses on interior improvements. The project is scheduled to start in July.

Residents’ concerns have a long history, said Royce McLemore, president of the Golden Gate Village Residents Council and a 50-year resident of Marin City,

With no current MOU mandating training and participation of residents, the legal basis for all the redevelopment decisions made by the county since 2024 is questionable, said Terrie Green, executive director of Marin City Climate Resilience. “We are experiencing voicelessness. If residents had a voice, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” she said.

County decisions include a plan, in line with federal regulations, to convert GGV from public housing to a public-private enterprise that allows for private investment. The Marin Housing Authority has created a limited partnership that includes Burbank Housing – which will renovate the units and manage the property – and Wells Fargo Bank, the investor.

This change in federal policy regarding public housing, which includes a shift to a Section-8 voucher system, has resulted in gentrification across the country, particularly affecting African Americans in cities such as San Francisco.

Shifts in criteria of what is considered affordable could also end up pricing residents out of their living units. At present, low income in Marin County is officially considered $156,000. But the median household income in Marin City is significantly lower at $68,846.

Damian Morgan, a community advocate with Marin City Climate Resilience, questioned why the county is renovating apartments without fixing toxic infrastructure that is impacting the lives of people in GGV.

Morgan said tenants have filed a class action lawsuit because of unsafe conditions at Golden Gate Village.

Residents are also concerned that the County still does not have an adequate family plan for temporary displacement while their apartments are being renovated. Although the County has suggested other community apartments as alternatives, nothing concrete has developed except vacant public housing units that have the same toxic conditions, such as mold and mildew.

Green said it doesn’t make sense. “…Why are we moving people around into temporary housing that’s uninhabitable, when you should be dealing first with the infrastructure, the foundational work, replacing old and rusted water pipes and new sewers.”

Morgan questions the County’s motivation for neglecting infrastructure repairs. “They’re remodeling the units but leaving the decayed infrastructure in place. I feel like they’re just setting this up for it to fail.”

“What slowed it down a little is that GGV is a historic preservation district, but I think what they’re striving for is demolition by neglect,” he said. “The neglect has always been on their part.”

Architect Ora Hatheway said her concern is about cutting corners. “You have to deal with the land issues. You have to deal with grading and drainage, and that’s being brushed under the rug.”

In an interview with KGO TV, Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters responded to some of these concerns. She said residents are guaranteed the right to return to their homes.

“This is a concern that we take seriously,” she said. “Every resident will move back into their own unit, and we’ve given this to them in writing. Before they leave their unit, we will sign a document together that guarantees their right to return.”

In response to residents who feel left out of the planning process, she said community input has focused on those affected by the first phase of the project. “So other residents may not have heard quite as much or felt like they had as much contact. But if there are residents who have concerns, we’re happy to hear from them. You can contact my office or the housing authority directly,” she said.

While County leaders may be giving some updates to some tenants, they are not sitting at the table with the Residents Council nor giving residents a voice in decision-making, said McLemore.

Without a voice in decisions, tenants are worried that Black people may be forced out of public housing, resulting in gentrification, she said in an interview with ABC 7. It’s still paternalistic, she said. “It’s still that ‘We know what’s best for you.’’’

Several years ago, the Residents Council proposed a land trust plan that would give tenants homeownership rights. Though the plan had broad support throughout the county, it was rejected by the Board of Supervisors

In the final analysis, Green said, for Marin City tenants the fight is not just for decent housing but to maintain their community with dignity under conditions of mutual respect.

“We’re talking about people who came here to work in the shipyards during World War II to bring about peace and safety to this country,” she said. “Look at the discrimination we’ve faced down through the years. Look at the life-span issue of Marin City folks – almost 20 years less than the rest of the County.”

“We want educational equity so our children will have decent schools. We need a land trust, property ownership, so we can have wealth creation. Marin City needs the same quality of life as other communities in Marin County.”