Willie A Owens was born September 8, 1939 to the late Samuel Owens and Willie Mae McCoy in Manchester, Georgia. Bill, as he was called by his family and friends was educated in the Meriwether County School district in Georgia. Bill was a traveling man and began his journey at age 17 where he left Georgia and moved to Philadelphia. Philadelphia is where he met and married the love of his life, Theresa Johnson. Bill was employed by Septa and owned a restaurant in West Philadelphia for a short period before he became a full time truck driver. Bill was a member of St. Andrews Fellowship Baptist Church for over 40 years under the leadership of Bishop Johnnie Golden where he was ordained as a Deacon. Deacon Owens sang for many years with the St. Andrews Male chorus and the Golden Voices for a few years. Deacon Owens would travel to Georgia and Florida with Bishop Golden and the church to minister in song. Deacon Owens loved quartet singing. He was a member of The Cymbals, The Blessed Kings, and The Sensational Chariots. Oh when Bill sang “The Old Rugged Cross” with The Blessed Kings, you best believe you could count on him placing the microphone on the pew as he continued to minister the song while walking down the aisle. Bill would get to the back of the church, turn around, then swing his suit jacket displaying his suspenders, run back to the front of the church and continue singing. All through the church you would hear “SING BILL”. Deacon Owens loved to work on cars. If you couldn’t find him on the road you would find him at the shop with his buddy, Hubie. Deacon Owens leaves to cherish his memories his wife Theresa Owens, daughter Sawanda, son Billie, his niece and nephews that he raised as his sons and daughter Bobby (Anja), Franklin jr., Theresa, and William, 3 sisters, Polly, Tina (Tillman), and Barbra, 3 brothers Franklin sr., Sammie, and James, 4 grandchildren Derek, Percell, Derrell, and Tyeisha, 2 great grands Laila and Alexandria, 1 aunt Leandy Prather, 1 Godson Hubert Thompson 1 goddaughter Sharita Marrero and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends
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