Betty Lee Owens

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Evangelist Betty Lee Owens, 76, passed away Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, at McLaren Hospital in Flint, Mich. Betty Lee Owens was born Nov. 27, 1943, in Earle to Viola Duncan and Dick Owens. She grew up in Earle and then as a young adult moved to Memphis, Tenn. After several years in Memphis, Betty then moved her family to Flint, Mich., in September of 1976. She attended Lemoyne-Owen College in Memphis and then continued her education at the University of Michigan-Flint. Betty was a retired school teacher from Flint Community Schools. In her earlier work life, Betty worked as an assistant chef, at Baptist Memorial Hospital for the Physician’s Dining Lounge. Cooking and baking became one of her primary lifelong passions!

Evangelist Owens accepted Christ at an early age in her life.She was a member of New Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis at the time of her passing. She was a former member of Faith Tabernacle and Ebenezer Ministries, both of Burton, Mich. She was a musician and soloist for many choirs and gospel singing groups. Her passion for living and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ led her into the ministry where she became an ordained evangelist.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Viola and Dick Owens; three brothers, B.B. Owens , Robert Dorsey, Jr. and Bordy Dorsey; and her beloved sister, Milinda Franklin.

She is survived by five children, TC Miller of Detroit, Mich., Mark (Rebecca) Miller of Grand Blanc, Mich., Catherine Miller of Grand Blanc, Mich., Orlando Miller of Detroit, Mich., and Seteria Miller of Memphis, Tenn. She is also survived by 10 siblings, Quebell (Sticky) Owens of Earle, and Mae Helen Jackson, Ethel Dorsey, Luella (Robert) Brown, Priscilla Lewis, Roberta Goins, Climmie (Jeanine) Dorsey, and Jessie Dorsey, all of Blytheville, Cleo Dorsey, of Alexandria, La., and Gracie Golden of West Memphis; her loving aunt, Rosie Myers of St. Louis Mo., eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at Wilson Funeral Home in Blytheville, with the funeral immediately following at 10 a.m. The burial will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Blytheville.