NATCHEZ — For 22 years, Marjorie Bowman has been helping Miss-Lou residents fight crime.

Bowman, the chairperson of the Miss-Lou Crime Stoppers since 1991, leads the organization’s monthly meetings, helps plan fundraisers and works with law enforcement to help empower citizens to stop crime.

“I just like to be a part of the community and help out in any way I can to fight crime,” Bowman said. “Whatever our group can do, we’re going to be a part of it.”

Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization of citizens against crime with the goal of helping citizens supply law enforcement with information on unsolved crimes and suspicious activity. It also seeks to promote community involvement and develop an offensive against crime by way of neighborhood watch groups.

Natchez Police Detective Jerry Ford, who’s on the Crime Stoppers board, said he’s worked with Bowman for almost two years and has already gained an appreciation for what she does.

“I have to say, she does an excellent job,” Ford said. “Without Crime Stoppers, a lot of these cases would go unsolved. We appreciate all they can do to help us.”

Bowman said retired Natchez Police officer Charles Woods is the one who got her started in the group.

“He got a group of us from Vidalia and put us in here,” Bowman joked.

Having stuck with it for 22 years, Bowman said she’s perfectly fine spending so much time on something for which she isn’t paid.

“That never phased me,” Bowman said. “I just wanted to help the community.”

Ford said Bowman’s knowledge and passion concerning Crime Stoppers is what makes her such an effective chairperson.

“She’s been with the program quite a while, and she’s been doing a magnificent job,” Ford said.

When she’s not helping fight crime, Bowman oversees the Vidalia meal site and transportation for the Concordia Council on Aging, something she’s been doing for approximately 30 years.

“There’s not too much (I’m not involved in), really,” Bowman said, laughing.

Bowman said she wanted to encourage citizens to call the Crime Stoppers number, 601-445-2500, if they had any tips about crime in the area. Rewards of up to $1,000 are offered to anyone who calls the number with information leading to an arrest, and callers remain anonymous.