Alice Watson Owens

Alice Watson was born in Dublin, Georgia on Sunday, September 23, 1928 to Alton and Lois (Scarborough) Watson. Alton, a Federal Court Reporter, and Lois, an extraordinary homemaker, had welcomed their first daughter, Mary Frances, a beautiful, smart, musically-talented girl, to their family four years before Alice and her twin brother, Albert, were born.

Twins in the Watson and Scarborough families were traditionally bestowed with rhyming names, including “Eva and Neva” and “Alene and Argene.”

“Alice Pearl and Albert Earl” continued that tradition. Their middle names of “Pearl” and “Earl” were tributes to meaningful people in their parents’ lives. Earl was a tribute to a friend who was a judge and Pearl was a tribute to their father’s first grade teacher.

By gifting their blonde-haired baby girl with the name of a favorite teacher, Alton and Lois Watson may have inherently inspired their youngest daughter’s lifelong reverence for learning.

Alice’s childhood was one of wonder, whimsy and wholesomeness. Her maternal grandparents, the Scarboroughs, owned and worked a family farm in Wrightsville, Georgia while her paternal grandparents, the Watsons, lived in Dublin, Georgia where her grandfather’s career centered around politics and law enforcement.

Lois and Alton moved their family from Dublin to Griffin, Georgia where Alice excelled as a student and loved being a Griffin High School cheerleader. Her brother Al also excelled as a student at Griffin High and was a star on the varsity football team. The Watson home became a popular gathering place for their friends as Alice and Al hosted parties and touch football games after school.

On September 18th, 1946, during her freshman year at Mercer University, Alice met the one-and-only love of her life, James Walter “Pop” Owens, Jr., an ex-Navy WWII Ensign from the Pacific Theater, originally from Fitzgerald, Georgia. Alice, a member of Chi Omega, and Walter, President of Kappa Sigma fraternity, met at the Mercer Co-op; he called her for a date when she returned to the dorm; and, thereafter, they never dated another. With her sister Frances as her Matron of Honor and Walter’s childhood and U.S. Navy friend, Buck Melton, as his Best Man, Alice Watson and Walter Owens wed on August 31st, 1947 at Vineville Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia.

On the weekend of the Georgia-Auburn game in 1949, Alice and Walter relocated to Columbus, Georgia after Walter graduated from Mercer law school to start his career as a Criminal Defense Attorney. Alice said she felt Columbus was so excited to welcome them, the city held a parade that day to celebrate their arrival.

Alice’s greatest joy was being known as ‘Mrs. J. Walter Owens, Jr.’ and as the Mother of daughters Lois Carol (John) Campbell, Mary Alice ’Sis’ (Ken) Piper, and son Jimmy, “JWO,III” (Heather) Owens.

Alice nurtured Carol’s love of writing, Sis’s love of reading “Nancy Drew” mysteries, and Jimmy’s love of all things cowboy-related. Her escapades with her children often celebrated what each child most wanted. Carol adored Elvis. Sis wanted chickens. Jimmy couldn’t wait to ride the rides at the County Fair.

Once, on a lark, Alice snuck Carol out of a Girls’ Auxiliary Convention in Memphis, hailed a taxi and dashed across town to visit Graceland where Elvis was sleeping that day and where his Uncle Vester took them on a private tour of the property in a pink golf cart.

Alice granted Sis’s fervent wish for her 10th birthday and commissioned an elaborate chicken coop to be built in the backyard so Sis’s wish for “chickens” could come true.

Alice also knew Jimmy loved the sights, sounds and smells of the County Fair and let Jimmy ride the Ferris Wheel, in a gondola with his parents, and the kiddie helicopter ride as many times as he wanted.

Alice especially appreciated her children’s teachers through the years with a generosity and support that is legendary. Each year the Owens’ children gave their teachers Christmas gifts with thank you notes, and, in an unheard-of gesture, Alice continued to give each of their teachers, at Johnson Elementary School, Christmas presents with thank you notes until Carol, Sis and Jimmy were in college.

Alice’s heart swelled over her two grandsons, James Mackenzie “Mac” Watson (no relation to Alice’s family yet the sweetest “name” connection) and Griffin Owens Campbell. She adored them and wrote their names in the cement square leading to her front door so she could celebrate them every day.

She called Mac “Precious” all his life for he was her first grandchild, her precious boy who became a man who made her so proud. Mac meant the world to her and his personality gave her so much joy. In later years, Mac cared for his “Mamma A,” kept her laughing with his dazzling wit, cheered her as she cooked eggs and bacon each Friday morning for a group of his friends she called “The Breakfast Club,” and engaged in deep conversations with his “Mamma A" about life, faith and death. Alice admired Mac’s talents, his success as a businessman and entrepreneur, and, most of all, his Christian faith. The two of them are kindred spirits for all of time.

She called Griffin, “My Griffin,” and was so proud of her beloved, brilliant grandson with whom she shared a love of travel and education as he taught English at Itoman High School in Okinawa and studied in Paris. Griffin called her “Grandmother” and loved how she read books to him when he was a boy. She loved Griffin’s name for it was a tribute to her hometown and to Daddy’s best college friend and law school buddy, former U.S. Attorney General Griffin Bell. Most of all, she adored and admired Griffin for his humor, his integrity, his curiosity, and his insights about people and life. She often told Carol, Griffin’s mother, how Griffin enhanced her life when he was born and what a kind, thoughtful young man he was, and how he held a special place in her heart that was his alone, forever.

Alice loved nothing more than spending time with each of her grandsons and delighted in seeing the two of them together, laughing with a mutual humor so hilarious.

Her great-grandson, Jagger Cash Watson, son of Mac and Kelly, was truly her heart. Jagger called his great-grandmother, “Amie,” and the two of them loved playing games together that they created, loved to laugh together, and loved each other for all of time. “Amie” delighted in calling Jagger “Precious 2,” for he was (and is) Mac’s mini-me. She was so devoted to Jagger’s care, helping Kelly and Mac navigate through the early parenting years. She picked Jagger up from elementary school each day, arriving two hours early to be the first in the car pick-up line at St. Luke’s in Columbus. Jagger’s “Amie” volunteered to be a Classroom Helper and she joined in the fun as the target of a Cream Pie Toss at Jagger’s school and loved every minute of it. She attended school events, Jagger’s school presentations, and treasured being a vibrant part of Jagger’s life with appreciation to Mac and Kelly for that glorious opportunity. (She also loved Kelly for many reasons, including her many talents, yet also, as she would wink at Kelly, because Kelly was married to Precious 1 and the mother of Precious 2.)

Alice treasured her special relationship with her son-in-law John who has been married to Carol for 45 years. She loved John, admired his intelligence, his happy personality, his wit, his love of her homemade lemon squares, his quiet counsel when she needed his guidance, and, even though he was born a Yankee, she trusted him completely (and teased him often).

Alice greatly appreciated her son-in-law Ken for all the help he gave her through the years with his many talents and renaissance skills. She especially enjoyed his warm personality, his humor, and valued his military service in the Army. She so loved the Christmas tree Sis and Ken gave her with the twinkling lights that brightened her room no matter the season, and their generosity.

Alice delighted in Jimmy and Heather’s decision to marry on her birthday. She appreciated the care Heather gave her each time she and Jimmy visited as Heather attended to her every need. With her trademark sense of humor, Alice reminded Heather of Heather’s good fortune to be married to Jimmy who was “her baby boy, her pride and joy.” Alice appreciated Heather’s support of Jimmy and Heather’s faithfulness, her cooking talents, her humor and her faith.

Alice loved and admired her sister-in-law George Anna Morgan Watson for all of time. She adored George Anna and Al’s children. Alice treasured her many fun-loving cousins for the special joy each gave her. She loved her nieces and nephews, including Floyd Buford, Jr., (Frances and Floyd, Sr.’s son); Russ, Morgan and Anna Watson, (Al and George Anna’s children); Cathy, Wendy, Ray and Jennie Larmore, (Bill and Eloise’s children); Larry, Nora and Davey Owens, (Jack and Vernell’s children) for they brought her delight through the years with a special place in her heart for each of them.

Additionally, the many children who became dear to her from church, the neighborhood and school events, as well as every friend her children ever brought home, every boyfriend or girlfriend, and every incidental introduction mostly led to a lifelong relationship, and, with a few, a very special and lifelong love.

Gisele Smoot Beldt who grew to be a “daughter” to Alice through the years visited her often and offered her such joy. Gisele’s serene presence, her flair for exquisite homemade gifts, and her love cheered Alice as only those who know Gisele can appreciate. Whenever Gisele would say, “I love you,” Alice began saying, “I love you more” and those became Alice’s last words on the evening she passed away.

Alice loved the church and steeple-birdfeeder her dear friend, Blair Pennington, gave her. Alice would look at it outside her window each day, often pointing it out to any new caregiver saying, “My sweet friend, Blair, gave that to me.” Alice loved Blair and her husband Penny for their special kinship with Mac through their church and for the blessing Blair was in Alice’s life and Mac’s.

Alice appreciated so many gifts and blessings from her friends, too many to name, yet each of you were forever in her heart. (Thank you to Mary Boyd, Don Gallops, Lisa Wright, Karen Wright, Pat Williams Aldridge, and Judy Hall Hinton, Pam and Ron Burris to name a few)

“Mother’s” best friend (and our family’s best friend, cherished family member and our forever, ever-loving heart) was a “Saint” and “Assistant Mother” named Annie Love Burton who joined our family when Jimmy was three weeks old. Annie helped raise Carol, Sis and Jimmy and she is forever in all our hearts and souls. Annie’s children, Larry, Velmarie and Rod, remain a part of our Owens’ family always, as if our sister and brothers from childhood.

Mother also treasured her pets who became her beloved companions. When she was a little girl, she said she felt happy whenever she saw the painting in her bedroom of a sleeping blonde-haired girl guarded by a beautiful collie dog. Through the years, Mother doted on Fluffy, Lady, Prince and Maddie and fell in love with Jimmy’s cat, Chester. When Chester was nearing his end, Mother stretched out on a cot beside Chester and cooed to him and cuddled him for he meant so much to her.

Yet that doesn’t fully encompass Mother’s complete family. If Mother knew you at all, she most certainly loved you. Her Christian life and influence were not changeable to put on and take off, like clothing. It was her true calling and way of life. Both Dad and Mother were “GOD said it, I believe it and that settles it” Christians who walked the walk and talked the talk. They didn’t pray to their faith, they prayed "from" their faith, expecting victory in the results of God’s promises.

Mother’s ‘family’ didn’t just stop at bloodlines. Her Rose Hill Baptist-extended family, her neighborhood-extended families, Dad’s professional families, her Civic Organization’s families, her children’s various Educational/PTA families from Johnson and Clubview Elementary, Richards Jr. High, Columbus High School, Hardaway High School, Brownie/Girl Scout, Cub Scout/Boy Scout families were all so very dear to her.

Those special Caregivers from Ridgecrest Skilled Nursing Center, Preferred Care Hospice, Columbus Hospice and Comfort Keepers who served Mother with such genuine love, sweetness and kindness were a blessing to both Mother and to us. Mother and our family love you all very much and remain appreciative of your friendships with her and the special love you and Mother shared. YOU’RE ALL ANGELS to us.

Mother especially adored Karen Killingsworth at Ridgecrest Skilled Nursing Facility who was with Mother and holding her hand when Mother began her heavenly journey. Karen is also a twin and she and Mother enjoyed a blessed kinship of faith, trust, admiration and humor.

Our dearest thanks to Karen, Jennifer, Pam, Adele, Beth, Manona, Jane, Jackie, Angela, Karolyn, Stacey F. and so many others who gifted Mother with attention, care, comfort, joy and dignity. Thank you also to Catherine, Brooke, Dillon, and Al at Comfort Keepers and Jeannie at Preferred Care Hospice who supported Mother with their abundant care.

Mother was known for her courtesies to those who cared for her. She always said, “Thank you,” to her caregivers, asked how their day was going, told Jackie and others, “You’re a keeper!” and surely sparkled their moments together with her humor and her grace.

It would seem as if Mother might admire Grace Kelly as her favorite movie star for her fashion, style, and elegance, however, Mother adored one movie star above all the others. Mother loved “Jean Harlow.” Mother loved her hair, her sass, her satin gowns, her beauty, her humor.

Mother was also known for her humor, her acerbic wit, her zingers, her judgements, her class, her “absoluteness,” her “looks that could stop folks in their tracks.” The day before Mother died, she said to Carol, “Honey, you look so beautiful.” Moments later, she said, “You know, I don’t see too well.” Ahhh. Quintessential Mother. Jimmy always likened Mother to Barbara Stanwyck, an iconic, beautiful, stoic legend of charm, certainty, admiration, and force, and Alice Owens was definitely a commanding force, in her own way, as well.

If Alice knew you, she never forgot you. She was amazingly accomplished in her natural ability for leadership and she was sought after to serve her community in many ways. She never pursued the positions she held. In every instance, she accepted the service she was asked to lead and she led from the guidance imbued from her heart.

Alice Owens was a pioneer. She was the first woman and twice-Chair of The Columbus Executive Club. With her husband Walter, they were the only couple in Columbus to chair that Presidency.

Alice proudly and lovingly served on the Board of Twin Cedars, a home for children that was a 1993 merger of the West Georgia Youth Council in Lagrange with The Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home for Girls in Columbus. Alice was so humbled, appreciative and honored to have an Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home cottage, “The Owens Cottage,” named after her at the Columbus campus.

Alice was named a “Gracious Lady of Georgia,” served as Johnson Elementary PTA President, later served as the Muscogee Council PTA President, served as President of the Trade Center, along with many more service appointments, spanning Church, civic and private posts.

Alice’s work on a Mayor’s Committee led her to champion those with disabilities. She was instrumental in advocating for disabled persons’ parking spaces to be designated closer to store entrances and for sidewalks to offer curb ramps for wheelchair users.

Whether sitting on Boards with Mayors, Business Leaders, Educators, Generals or engaging in endeavors with her peer housewives to her favorite moments, the times spent with children, Alice never changed, altered herself, assumed another persona nor lost sight of God’s given guidance.

She never made decisions nor approached challenges or problems without beseeching God’s Will first, as those who knew Alice can attest. Alice Owens never wavered, never oscillated and never stumbled, through situations life brought, as she walked ever closely with her faith.

Alice’s legacy is inclusive of and reflected in her heart for others, her soul’s love for Christ, the sternness of her Christian convictions and her dedication to family, as guided always by God’s will and presence, in her life.

The Bibles and Christian books of praise and uplifting that Alice gave to others over the years, adorned with personal words of love, hope and salvation, are far too many to calculate. Her cards and letters of support to anyone she knew who might be experiencing tribulations, as well as the many occasions and loving tenure with which she opened her home to young mothers and families in need of shelter, caring and guidance are an arcane privacy only known to those who, in prayerfully seeking an Angel, were through Alice, so fortunately rewarded.

There simply aren’t enough words to accurately throw at Alice’s heart’s description, her life’s encapsulation, her backbone for Christ nor the blessing that defined Alice Watson Owens.

In lieu of any expression for her, awhile back, Mother asked us to share her wish that you would “hug those you love tightly and tell them you love them so.”

Now it is time to “Rest In Peace,” Mother...’Mamma A’....’Grandmother’….’Amie’....Aunt Alice....’Bebe’ (When her brother Al couldn’t say “Baby,” he said, “Bebe,” and it became her nickname)....Alice Pearl Watson Owens....Mrs. J. Walter Owens, Jr.

You were an extraordinary woman whose life of purpose reflected your love for the Lord, your husband, your children, your family, and your friends.

“I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown’. And he replied, ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of GOD. That shall be to you better than light and safer...than a known way!”

(“The Gate of the Year” poem by Minnie Louise Haskins)

Services will be conducted by Jim Owens, Alice's son.