Anthony Owens Obituary

OWENS, Anthony The funeral service for Captain Anthony "Tony" Owens of 140 Bridle Ridge Road, Lexington, S.C., Captain of the West Columbia Police Department Detective Division will be Saturday, February 2, 2008, at 12 noon at Brooklyn Baptist Church, 1066 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, S.C. Rev. Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Pastor, officiating. The Interment will be in the Owens Family Cemetery at McBranch Baptist Church, Branchville, S.C. The Casket will be placed in the church at 10 a.m., Saturday. Active casket bearers will be the West Columbia Police Department. Visitation will be at the OWENS FUNERAL HOME, 1707 Reevesbranch Road, Branchville, S.C., Friday, February 1, 2008, 12 noon to 9 p.m. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday, 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friends may call the residence or the residence of his parents, Rev. Blease Ross and Mrs. Willie Mae Owens Ross, 2323 Cattle Creek Road, Branchville, S.C. Captain Anthony "Tony" Owens was born on May 10, 1953, in Branchville, S.C. (McBranch Community). Tony was the son of the late Mr. Clifton Owens and Mrs. Willie Mae Owens Ross. At an early age, he was baptized at McBranch Baptist Church in Branchville. He was a member of the Sunshine Band. Anthony graduated from Lockett High School in 1971. He began his law enforcement career as a correctional officer for the S.C. Department of Corrections where he served from 1975 to 1977. He then became a patrol officer with the City of Columbia where he worked from 1977 until he joined the West Columbia Police Department in November of 1979. With extreme dedication, he worked his way up to the rank of Captain of the Detective Division. He was served in that capacity since March of 1997 where he trained hundreds of law enforcement officers to understand the importance of hard work, professional and personal integrity and passion and concern for the community. Captain Owens recently received his Bachelor's Degree in Business from Southern Wesleyan University. "Tony" was preceded in death by his father; two sisters, Maxine Evola Owens and Willie Lee Owens; and one brother, Harold Owens. He is survived by: his wife, Linda Owens; his children, LaBrone Berry, Antonia (Cristopher) Powell, Antohny R. (Kawana) Owens, Kawanis Owens, and two step-children, ReeShemah (Carroll) Kelly, and Milon Homan; and 11 grandchildren; his parents, Rev. Blease Ross and mrs. Willie Mae Owens Ross of Branchville, S.C.; two sisters, Deloris Owens Paul of Englewood, N.J. and Delores Ross of Connecticut; eight brothers, Clifton (Geneva) Owens of Bronx, N.Y., Jethro (Mable) Owens of Columbia, S.C., Paul (Katherine) Ross, Willie N. (Willa Dean) Ross, Lynn Owens, all of Branchville, S.C., Isaiah (Lillie) Owens of Harlem, N.Y., Ronald Owens of Mannheim, Germany, and Robert (Donna) Owens, Englewood, N.J.; seventeen nephews, sixteen nieces; the Murray Family of Branchville, S.C. and a host of other relatives and close friends. Visit our guestbook at ww.charleston.net/deaths.