Jean B. Owens

MRS. JEAN BATTS OWENS was the youngest child of the late Ellwood Batts and Estelle Hawthorne Batts. She was born in Youngstown, Ohio and reared in Dinwiddie County, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland. Jean was preceded in death by her husband of forty-eight years, Charles R. Owens, Jr. They had two daughters, Cheryl and Yvonne, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Jean became a member of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in 1958, where she served as: • Trustee • Member of Stewardship Committee • Clerk Elder of Session (14 years) • Church Commissioner • Member of the Christian Education Committee • Member of the Westminster Youth Fellowship Committee • Member, Co-chair, and Chair of five anniversary committees • Member of the Sanctuary Choir • Teacher in Heal’s After School Tutorial Program • Chairman of the Pastor’s Nominating Committee • Member of the Platinum Club • Church Commissioner (Presbyterian) • Chairman of the Commission on Regathering (Pandemic, 2020) Her entire forty-two-year career in education was spent in the Baltimore City Public School System where she served as English Teacher for twelve years, English Specialist, Assistant Principal, Regional Specialist Grades K-12 (all subject), Assistant to the Regional Superintendent of Northwest Region, and Principal of Frederick Douglass High School for eleven years. She also taught in the evening college at Morgan State University for seventeen years. After retirement, she was employed as a consultant at Sylvan Learning and coordinator of a school partnership program between Frederick Douglass High School and University of Maryland Medical Center. In her final assignment, she served as a mentor to Baltimore City Principals in the Restructuring Program. Jean was a graduate of Frederick Douglass High School, Morgan State University, and Columbia University. She pursued additional studies at Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University, and New York University. Jean, a lifetime member, was initiated into the Alpha Delta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. on April 14, 1948. After graduation she joined the Epsilon Omega graduate chapter where she actively served as President, Vice-President, Parliamentarian, Secretary, and Chairwoman of multiple committees. Jean was a mentor to many and carried a legacy in the Sorority of her daughters and granddaughters and ensured that her many bonus daughters were afforded an opportunity to join her organization. During her tenure as President, she was awarded “Basileus of the Year”. In February 2023, Jean achieved the highest recognition in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as she celebrated 75 years of membership in her beloved sorority. Jean also holds lifetime memberships in the NAACP and the Morgan State University Alumni Association. She was also a District Parliamentarian, life member and past president of the Baltimore City Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc., and co-founder of The Melds Pinochle Club, now 50 + years old. She was the recipient of numerous awards from organizations and the community. • The Vivian J. Cooke Award, Epsilon Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. • Alumnus of the Year, Morgan State University, National Association for Equality in Education • The Sojourner Truth Award, Baltimore City Club, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. • Outstanding Black Marylander Award, Towson University • Valued Hours Award, Harlow and Elnora Fullwood Foundation • Community Service Award, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. and Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church • Women of Valor for Community Services, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church • Living Legend Award, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church • Friend of Foreign Language Award Je an was an educator and mentor at heart, and she loved to read. Once she retired, it afforded her more opportunity to travel the world, and it was hard to keep up with her. She enjoyed traveling with her friends, children, and grandchildren. Her travels included visits to forty-eight of the fifty United States, Canada, Europe, Bombay, India, Great Britain, Israel, Egypt, Greece, Italy, and the continent of Africa, to name a few. Jean made sure she was present at conferences for the organizations she served in. However, throughout the years she somehow always made time to cook great meals for her family and any friends that stopped by. She was known for her shrimp salad, crab cakes, turkey salad, and her special sausage dressing during the holidays. There was always plenty of food for everyone and she was happiest when she was feeding you. Jean had a wicked sense of humor and could always keep you laughing. Her husband, Charles R. Owens, Jr., her sister, Lavinia Batts Green, and her brother, Clyde W. Batts preceded her in death. She leaves behind her devoted and cherished family: daughters, Cheryl R. Robinson (Charles) and Yvonne O. Jones (Earl); seven grandchildren, Christine, Chrystal, and Cherisse Robinson and Earl III, Eryn, Elan, and Evan Jones; one great-granddaughter, Charleigh Jackson; nieces, Lisa G. Gould and Shanya Green; nephews, Leonard and Christopher Green and William Murray; and a host of other relatives and friends. Jean’s favorite quote was “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”. She was devoted to family, friends, church, and to the organizations to which she was affiliated.

Tributes

Jean B. Owens

November 27, 1927 - May 11, 2023