Frances Elizabeth Hitch

VALDOSTA -- Betty Owens, 89, of Valdosta died Thursday, June 6, 2002, at South Georgia Medical Center, Frances Elizabeth Hitch was born on Jan. 15, 1913, in Ch'onch'on, South Korea to the late Rev. James W. and Reubie Lilly Hitch, who were serving as missionaries. She visited the United States on several occasions before returning in 1927, to finish high school in Savannah, Ga. After graduating from Wesleyan College in 1934, she taught in Shellman and Waycross, Ga. She married Dr. Bennett Graham Owens of Valdosta on May 20, 1937, and had three sons, Bennett, Jimmy and Joe. Always an active member of her church, she and Dr. Owens hosted "afterglows" and prayer breakfasts for VSC students and prayer breakfasts for Moody Air Force Base pilots throughout the 1960s and 1970s. At the time of her death, she was a member of Cornerstone United Methodist Church. Mrs. Owens a woman of faith, practiced daily what she taught others about God's Word and their relationship with Christ. A true prayer warrior and intercessor, her life was a witness and testimony for others to model. Hours before her death, she continued to pray and glorify her Lord and Savior, asking him to be real in the lives of others. Survivors include three sons and two daughters-in-law, Dr. Bennett G. and Ann Owens of Fayetteville, N.C., James H. and Kathie Owens of Valdosta and Joseph H. Owens of Hatfield, Pa.; five grandchildren, Elaine O. Nance of Suwannee, Bennett G. Owens, III of Fayetteville, N.C., Marilois Owens of Valdosta, Elizabeth Steedley of Homerville and Katharine Owens of Charleston, S.C.; four great- grandchildren; one brother, S. Herbert Hitch of Charlotte, N.C.; two nephews; and one niece. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Bennett G. Owens, Sr., and a sister, Mary Lois Hitch Felton. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Roc Bottomly and the Rev. Richard A. Newton officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. this evening at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Betty Owens Scholarship Fund, c/o James H. Owens, 2301 Pinecliff Dr., Valdosta, GA 31602. -- Carson McLane Funeral Home.

  Events

• Graduation, 1934, Wesleyan College, Macon, GA.

Frances married Dr. Bennett Graham Owens Sr., son of Charles Hastings Owens and Harriet Hanson Head, on 20 May 1937 in Montezuma, Macon Co., GA.¹ (Dr. Bennett Graham Owens Sr. was born on 06 Feb 1901 in Hurtsboro, Russell Co., AL,¹ died on 14 Oct 1975 in Cumberland Co., NC ⁴ and was buried about 17 Oct 1975 in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Valdosta, Lowndes Co., GA.)