Rev. Mark Owens, 91, of Holden Beach, NC died Thursday, July 8, 2021. Born in Robeson County, NC, on March 29, 1930, he was the son of the late Major and Nora Owens. He was the only boy in a farm family of eight girls. He attended Mars Hill College and Wake Forest Baptist Seminary and began his career as a Baptist minister, serving North Carolina churches in Whiteville, Greenville, Southport, and Hudson. Following the death of his first wife, Enna Lou, he moved with his three small children to Shallotte, North Carolina, and became the pastor at Calvary Baptist Church. He began teaching high school to supplement his income and eventually became a full-time educator, serving as a high school and middle school principal and Associate Superintendent of Brunswick County Schools. During his early teaching career, he met and married Joan Owens and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 27, 2021. In his retirement he enjoyed raising chickens, gardening, attending church and being with his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Enna Lou Booth Owens, his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Owens, his sister, Linda Leder, stepdaughter Tonja Reynolds, and grandson, Harrison Taylor. He is survived by his wife, Joan, stepdaughter Valerie Taylor (Scott), sons Tim Owens (Ruth) and David Owens, stepson Terrill Reynolds, two grandaughters (Corrine and Tiffany), six grandsons (Chandler, Mark, Albert, David, Daniel and Gabriel), and one great grandaughter (Juniper). He is also survived by his loving sisters, Ruth, Doris, Betty Rose, Lillian, Joyce, Mildred, and Ann.

His grandsons will serve as pall bearers.

Funeral services will be held on July 12, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Brunswick Islands Baptist Church with Reverends Dr. Rudy Ramphal and Keith McKinney officiating. Visitation will be at the church preceding the funeral at 1 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Western Prong Baptist Church in Whiteville, NC following the funeral service.

Online condolences may be sent to: www.brunswickfuneralservice.com