During her 71 years of life, Mignon Bowers selflessly gave her time to her city, county and state as an Athens employee, City Council member and through her work with a number of charitable organizations.

Though she died in November from injuries she sustained in an October auto accident in Gulf Shores State Park, her legacy continues to loom large for those who knew her well and those she helped in the community.

On Wednesday, dozens of family members, friends and admirers paid tribute to Bowers’ memory at the site of an organization particularly near and dear to her heart — the Birdie Thornton Center. In front of the center, volunteers constructed a garden featuring three benches, hanging baskets of flowers and fresh sod. Each bench contains a small plaque bearing Bowers’ name.

“I see this as an emotional time for us to remember Mignon,” said Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks, who served with Bowers on the City Council. “It’s a time to celebrate what she gave back to the community.”

Marks went on to say Bowers had a tendency to forget where her car keys were, but was a “true, good friend” to the organizations she served.

“She was one of those people who would give, give and give, and never ask for anything in return,” he said. “It’s one of the great assets she had.”

Bowers was instrumental in establishing a Civitan Club charter at the center, which is active in providing skills to mentally disabled adults. Wanda Chittam-Johnson, who served alongside Bowers in the Birdie Thornton Civitan Club, described her as “an excellent leader” who would do a number of tasks without asking for assistance.

“We miss her terribly because she was such a driving force,” Chittam-Johnson said. “She was just a go-getter. … There’s no way we could ever replace her.”

Bowers’ husband, Jack Bowers, was also present at Wednesday’s ceremony. He was also seriously injured in the Oct. 15 crash, and described the ceremony as an emotional event for him. Several other members of Bowers’ family were also in attendance.

“She was a dedicated person who was big into Civitans, and supported it for many years,” he said. “I just wish she could have been here. … She would have loved this.”