Josephine Annette Fowler was born on March 30, 1944, to Albert Fowler and Willie Powell in Memphis, Tennessee. She had three brothers, Tommy Fowler, Eugene Fowler and Lloyd Fowler who preceded her in death. The last of her siblings, sister Joyce Fowler lives in Los Angeles, CA.

The family moved to Los Angeles, CA where Josephine attended Centennial High School in Compton, and was very active in Future Homemakers, Spanish Club, Speech and Debate Club and was an officer with the Girls League. She also was a Centenette and Flag Girl and dated the high school drum major, Baxter Moore.

After graduating High School, she married high school sweetheart, Baxter Moore, attended college and worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Years later, and after second marriage to Eural Strickland II, the birth of son Eural Strickland III, a move back to birthplace - Memphis Tennnessee where daughter Kimako Strickland was born, and a return to Los Angeles, Josephine moved the family to the Bay Area to be closer to her oldest daughter Darlene. Josephine’s life of service helping others was evidenced by a career change to Nursing, a field in which she worked for over 30 years before retiring.

Josephine committed her life to Christ at an early age. She loved music and while in Los Angeles, she sang the Southern California Community Choir with Reverend James Cleveland. In the Bay area she served as a Missionary and faithful member of Glad Tidings Church of God in Christ, Hayward, CA (Bishop J.W. Macklin, presiding). Josephine leveraged her nursing experience by serving on the Church’s Health and Wellness Ministry while studying theology at C.H. Mason Seminary.

Josephine continued to offer her strengths and experience in various civic activities, and political action groups: Women on Pursuit, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), Grandmothers Who Help and she was recognized by the California State Legislature and California State Senate for her tireless efforts. We were very proud of her Special Congressional Recognition by the United States House of Representatives for her work over six years as a member of the Board of Directors for Hayward Emergency Shelter - where she served as VP and Board Development Chair. Through her persistence and tenacity, Josephine helped bring about significant improvements to the physical appearance of the shelter and its facilities. As a direct result of her efforts, ESP received gifts of clothing, necessities and cookware from local businesses. Developing partnerships with Bay Area Businesses and organizations was one of Josephine’s many strengths. Her passion for helping others continues even in death as a registered organ and tissue donor.

“Grammy” as we have called her, had a special connection to her children and grandchildren. She would pick up the phone and call to offer words of encouragement and prayers that we didn’t even know we needed.

Grammy leaves a legacy of three children: Darlene Annette Moore (Oakland, CA), Eural Strickland III (Sacramento, CA) and Kimako Annette Strickland (Tracy, CA).

Seven grandchildren: Asia Annette Lewis-Mooring (Oakley, CA), Janet Annette Cage (Deceased) Avyon Williams (Tracy, CA), Leilani-Nicole Annette Moncrease, (Oakland, CA), Eural Strickland IV (Sacramento, CA), Kelyze Bailey (Tracy, CA), Neveah Joie Jenkins, (Oakland, CA), and four great grandchildren: Amaia Annette Mooring, Marquith Mooring, Milyon Annette Alyce Strickland, Emahko Annette Martayah Strickland. She leaves to mourn, a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.