Gloria Brown Owens

Aiken – Mrs. Gloria Brown Owens, 81, passed away Friday, September 15, 2023.

Gloria was born in New Britain, CT, daughter of the late Ernest D. and Alberta Coleman Brown.  She was a graduate of New Britain High School Class of 1960. Gloria attended the Morse School of Business in Hartford, CT. She also earned an associates degree from Greater Hartford Community College. She had been a resident of Aiken for 20 years, and a member of St. Johns United Methodist Church.  In addition, she was also a founding member of the NECCI child care center in Newington, CT, as well as the United Methodist Church of Newington's nursey school.  She worked for the State of Connecticut for 35 years, retiring in 1998, and then for the AFL-CIO for 5 years prior to moving to Aiken.  She loved to play tennis, travel to different cities and places, as well as being an amateur photographer. She was also an avid fan of the UCONN men and women's basketball teams.

She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, James Elijah Owens, Sr.; sons, James Elijah Owens, Jr., Alexandria, VA, and Jonathan Owens, Newington, CT; two sisters, Alberta Buller and husband Dave, Kea'au, HI, and Beverly Healey, Kea'au, HI; step brothers; Robert Dixon, Benjamin Dixon and his wife Carolyn of Columbia, SC;   four sister-in-laws, Carrie Owens, West Hartford, CT, Leila Sweet, Bloomfield, CT, Yvonne Smith, East Hartford, CT, and Susan Revotskie of Williamstown, MA; her grandchildren, Justin Owens and Arianna Owens, a host of nephews and nieces.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Ernest D. Brown, Jr.

The family would also like to thank Dr. Aaron Flanders and his staff at Aiken Oncology as well as the ladies of the Infusion Center in Piedmont Hospital of Augusta, GA.

A Celebration of Life for Gloria will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, September 22, 2023 at St. Johns United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Tim McClendon and the Rev. Grayson “Butch” Blackwell officiating.  A reception will follow in Ward Hall.  The service will be livestreaned through the church website https://stjaiken.org/

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Aiken Hospital Auxiliary, and members of the Circle 9 Group.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude (www.stjude.org), or the American Cancer Society (www.donate.cancer.org).

SHELLHOUSE-RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 715 E. PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC

Gloria's online guest book may be signed by visiting www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com