By Staff
George Griffin Owens, Sr., 86, of 404 N. Broad Street, Columbia, died late Saturday night, May 10, 2008, at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville.
Born in the Riders Creek area of Tyrrell County, December 9, 1921, he was the son of the late Johnson Haywood and Ida Davis Owens and next to the youngest of eight children. He served in the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II (1942-1945), was married to the former Nancy Elizabeth Davis on October 20, 1945, nearly 61 years ago.
He owned and operated Owens Supply Company retiring in 1983.
Mr. Owens served as chairman of the Democratic Party for 3 terms; served as chairman of the ABC Board for several years; as Election Board Chairman for several years; was elected to the Columbia Board of Aldermen and served between 1971 and 1983, then served as Mayor of Columbia from 1983 until 2007. He was a past member of the Tyrrell County Rural Health Board and was a Cancer survivor since 1986.
He was a long time member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, the Columbia Rotary Club, The American Legion and the Southern Albemarle Association.
He was best known as POP by his grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoyed fishing, gardening, woodworking, surfing the internet and whatever he was told to do.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. Pastor James Koo and Rev. C. L. Reynolds will officiate. Burial will follow in Azalea Memorial Gardens. Serving as pallbearers will be Greg Cohoon, Chris Cohoon, Kevin Spencer, Rich Guerra, Scott Chandler and George Owens III.
Surviving are his wife, Nancy Davis Owens; a son, George Griffin Owens, Jr. and his wife, Rae; two daughters, Sandra O. Cohoon and her husband, Hal of Greenville and Nancy O. Davenport and her husband, Haywood of Columbia; grandchildren, Hannah Owens, Caroline Chandler, George Owens III, Dana Spencer, Lora Guerra, Greg Cohoon and Chris Cohoon; great-grandchildren, Kaleb Spencer, Leah Spencer, Abby Guerra, Nilah Guerra, Emily Chandler, Madeline Chandler, Mollie Chandler and Davis Owens; a special neice, Rachel Nokes of Destin, FL.
Preceding him in death were a daughter, Laurel Ann Owens; brothers, Howard, Woodie, Roscoe, Burvil and Delma Owens; sisters, Minnie Owens and Gertrude Owens; a special nephew, Raymond Owens.
The family suggests that memorials be directed to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, c/o Mary Lou Everett, Columbia, NC 27925.
Friends may visit with the family on Monday evening, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Main Street, Columbia.
Arrangements are by Bryan Services Columbia Community Chapel where online sympathy messages may be sent to www.bryanfs.com.
Paid obituary.