Laura Virginia Cox Owens

After graduating high school, she attended Mars Hill University and Furman University graduating from Furman in 1951. She earned a Master's degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1954.

She served as Elementary Director at First Baptist Church in Winston Salem, North Carolina and Director of Children’s Work and Kindergarten at First Baptist Church in Pompano Beach, Florida where she met and married the love of her life, Aubrey Hubert Owens in 1958. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary shortly before his death in 2018. They moved their family to Jacksonville, Florida in 1970 where she taught at Central Baptist School and in the Duval County Public School System. Her love of teaching also led her to teach English as a Second Language classes at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church and the International Learning Center.

Virginia was an active member of both First Baptist Church Pompano Beach and Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She passed on to her children her Christian faith and love of music. She came from a musical family and sang in church as a young girl. She played piano and encouraged her children to take piano lessons before pursuing other instruments. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren enriched her life and brought her great joy. She looked forward to spending time with them and enjoyed seeing them participate in sports, dance, music and school programs. She cherished each gift given to her by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. No matter how small, they were each a treasure.

After retirement, Aubrey and Virginia returned to his hometown of Wellborn, Florida to purchase property which provided a place for the family to relax and enjoy weekends. Virginia also enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening and bird watching. Feeding the birds and squirrels in her yard brought her joy. She was a loving, dedicated and tireless caregiver to Aubrey during his final years as he suffered with rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. Virginia was a stunning example of how to raise a loving close knit family and kept us close through the years. She was full of grace and always made sure everyone felt welcome in her home, offering food and a place to stay, the quintessential southern hostess.

Virginia was predeceased by her husband Aubrey, her parents, and her sister Dorothy Cox Ashmore. She is survived by her children Patrice Hall, Kendra Nowlin (Bill), and Keith Owens (Ann), seven grandchildren, Devyn (Josh) and Radyn Hall, Jordyn Jackson (Josiah); Andrew, Daniel (Sheila) and Keely Nowlin; Aubrey Owens; ten great-grandchildren Reid, Wayde, and Crew; Evelyn, Ashton, and Emersyn; Charli; Will, Wesley, and Parker. Virginia also leaves behind her sister Jean Rhoden, and multiple nieces and nephews.

A service will be held at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Legacy Lodge on Thursday, August 20 at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. The family wishes to thank Community Hospice for the wonderful care and support they provided during the last few months of Virginia’s life.