Obituary: Agnes Idella “Dorothy” Jones Owens
Agnes Idella “Dorothy” Jones Owens was born on March 10, 1922, to Eddie and Jessie Wilson Beard Jones. She was the first surviving child born to Eddie and Jessie. Being the oldest of Eddie and Jessie’s children, Dorothy was considered a second mother to her younger siblings: Samuel Jones, Homer Jones, Ollie Jones (Johnson) Hatcher, Lillie Jones Brady, Dempsey Jones, Ruth Jones McIntosh, Emogene Jones Bowden, and Jesse Ray Jones.
Dorothy’s father was previously married to Evie Horton, and this union produced 12 children: Herbert Jones, Maple Jones Beard, Robert Jones, Mearlon Jones, Eddie Jones, Jr., Mitchell Jones, Clifton Jones, Charlie Jones, Naomi Jones Robinson, Mary Jones (Ward) Garth, Maynard Jones, and Woodrow Jones. Other siblings include Moses Kelley, Albert Kelley, Mamie Kelley Bills, Walter Kelley, Alberta Kelley, and Dallas Kelley.
Dorothy was married to Mr. Curtis Bell “Kirk” Owens of Memphis, Tennessee. This union produced twin girls, Curtistine Owens Gatlin and Charlene Owens, on October 25, 1957. She was definitely proud to have her twin girls, often saying “Did you know I had twins?”.
She was employed by Shelby County Hospital as a nurse’s aide and also gave in-home care for various families. Dorothy was a very talented seamstress, making her twins’ dresses and creating and repairing on her Singer sewing machine. She loved to quilt, embroider, and create her own patterns. Dorothy took great pride in making her delicious “famous pound cake.” She often told stories of her childhood and also loved to tell about growing up taking care of her siblings and telling funny things they did and said. Dorothy told how they grew up poor and how they survived after the death of their father, Eddie, in February 1944.
Dorothy leaves a legacy of being a Christian woman, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, aunt, cousin, niece, caregiver, friend, and lastly a patient of some of the finest caregivers with Gentiva Hospice in Jackson. She became affectionately known as “GG” to a number of people. After her first great-grandchildren were born, she came up with the name and said, “I want them to call me GG for great-grandma.”
She was preceded in death by her parents, Eddie and Jessie; her husband, Curtis; great-grandson, who was also named Curtis;, as well as several siblings. Dorothy leaves to cherish her memory twin daughters, Curtistine and Charlene; brother, Ray; grandchildren, Tanisha (a caregiver), Summer, Candi, Brandy (Princeton), Tristan, Jessica (Brandon), Stephen, Tevin, and Taylor; great-grandchildren, Kiera (a caregiver), Jaylan, Tempestt, Juakem, Trae, Zaniya, Kwame, Breanna, Dimitriuse, Devin, Trista, Tristan Jr., Jayden, Trevion, Jeremiah, Brooklyn, and Dada; lastly great-great-grandchildren, Kailey, Braylen, Jordan, Solo, Brileigh, Koven, Serena, and Ahmari (on the way); and a host of cousins, and several nieces and nephews, many who saw her as a second mother. Her former neighbors, Joe and Joy Bartlett; close friend, Pastor Gregory Hammond, who loved her dearly and she adored them as well. Dorothy will be remembered by so many for her sweet spirit, story-telling, her jokes and cute sayings, and being full of love and laughter.
We’re still in this together!
Courtesy of Dixie Funeral Home, Bolivar, Tennessee.
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