Laverne Hodge Owens

She was the beloved daughter of Homer F. Hodge and Edith Buchanan Hodge. On May 10, 1951, she and her high school sweetheart, Vance Owens, eloped to Mississippi along with her sister and her fiancé to get married. The two couples had much debate over who would get married first and eventually they decided that she and Vance would be the second couple to marry. Following the double marriage, the couples returned home but Vance and Laverne each went back to their own homes and kept the marriage a secret for two months while her sister was celebrating with a wedding shower and receiving gifts. She was a devoted mother to two children, Susanne Caviness (Harrell) and Steve Owens (Linda). She retired from the IRS and was a faithful member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.

Her legacy lives on through her grandchildren: Steven Owens (Joelynn), Andy Looney (Britina), Chris Owens, Elizabeth Spinola (Michael), Lindsey Kidd (Steven), Laura Ashton-Boyd (Paul), Jackson Caviness and great-grandchildren: Sydney Owens, Connor Owens, Charlotte Kidd, Logan Kidd, Reagan Looney and Keaton Looney. She also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews who cherished her deeply.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Vance, son and daughter in law, Steve and Linda Owens, sisters, Dorothy Varner, Betty Sue Anderson, and Frances Parish and brothers, Homer F. Hodge, Jr., William Hodge, and Louis Hodge

She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and they loved her. She was a fun, loving, and faithful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose legacy will continue to shine through her family for generations to come.

A visitation for Laverne will be held Monday, August 11, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Family Funeral Care, 4925 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 38122, followed by a funeral service from 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM.