A Celebration of Life service for Rev. Carl R. Owens Sr., 92, of Monroe, Louisiana will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021, 11:00 AM at North Crossings Church, 6701 Hwy.165 North, Monroe, Louisiana.  Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM until the time of service.  Officiants will be Pastor Trey Oldham, Pastor Emeritus Ray Owens, Pastor Paul Matte and State Pastor Steve Nelson.  COVID prevention measures (masks/distancing) will be in place to provide safety to family and friends.  Additionally, the service will be livecast at www.northcrossings.com (YouTube and Facebook) for those unable to attend.

Carl was born in West Monroe, LA on May 12,1929 and grew up in the Bawcomville area where he joined his siblings working in their father’s store, Owens Grocery on Hwy 34. During WWII, he became the youngest school bus driver in Ouachita parish where he continued through high school and college. He was honored to be selected for Louisiana Boy’s State and served in the Louisiana Army National Guard. Carl attended Northeast Jr. College (LSU) and Anderson College (Indiana) prior to receiving a bachelor’s degree in Education in the first graduating class of Northeast Louisiana State College (ULM) in 1952. He began his career in business education, teaching at Start High School, Calhoun High School and later, Ouachita Parish High School. While teaching, Carl felt a call to enter the ministry bi-vocationally. During his first pastorate at the Beulah Church in West Carroll Parish, he met Ima Jean Brasher, and they were married in August 1954. The couple resided in West Monroe and shortly after, Brother Carl, as he was affectionately known, and Jean founded the First Church of God (North Crossings Church) in Monroe, Louisiana in 1957.  Carl continued teaching at Ouachita High School while he pastored and completed his master’s plus 30 degree in Administration.  God continued to bless their ministry with much growth, which necessitated him resigning as a teacher and returning to a bus driving position for a few years, prior to becoming a full-time Pastor. During this time, the church built a new facility and moved to Parkview Drive, as well as held one of the first Faith Promise Missions campaigns in the nation. Bro. Carl honored his family heritage in the Church of God Reformation movement and believed strongly in the church’s message of unity and holiness.  He truly did not see denomination or race as a dividing barrier in the Body of Christ.  Carl was very active in state church work and camping programs and served as longtime editor of the Louisiana Messenger newsletter.

In 1970, Carl felt a call to accept the Sr. Pastor position of the First Church of God in Hutchinson, Kansas. God blessed their ministry in Kansas, with many professions of faith in Christ, development of lifelong friends, much local and state ministry growth, a radio preaching ministry, serving as county sheriff’s chaplain, and becoming an avid promoter of the state campground at Camp Fellowship.  After leaving Kansas, Carl and Jean pastored congregations in San Antonio, Texas, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Monterey, Louisiana. While pastoring in Baton Rouge, Carl returned to work bi-vocationally at the Louisiana Department of Education, coordinating the tuition exemption program and serving as editor of the LDE newsletter. Upon retiring, Carl and Jean returned to Monroe where they continued to serve in their church and Carl was honored as “Founding Pastor” at North Crossings Church until his promotion to heaven on Thursday, September 2, 2021.

Carl is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Jean Brasher Owens, his parents Mack Lensey Owens, Sr. and Katie Gertrude Kilpatrick Owens, his brother, Mack L. Owens, Jr. and sisters, Nell Owens Foster and Glenda Owens Johnston. He is survived by his son, Rev. C. Ray Owens, Jr. and wife Dana; daughter, Karen Kennedy; son, Todd Owens and wife Pennie; a brother, Wamul Robert Owens and a sister, Faye Owens Haddox; Sister-in-law, Dee Bird Owens and a Brother-in-law, David L. Johnston. Grandchildren include: Dr. Brooke Owens Keels (Scott), Rev. Mathew Kennedy (Brandy), Jeremy Kennedy (Misty), Megan Owens and Molly Owens as well as five great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of “adopted” children all over the country.

Bro. Carl partnered with his wife and friend, Sis Jean to form a team that truly loved God, their family, and just about everyone they met. They genuinely loved serving others and opened their home to many through the years. Bro. Carl was an energetic person who didn’t require much sleep!  He loved talking to people about their life, our Lord Jesus and His Church, and getting involved in cooperative faith-based initiatives and community-wide projects, such as expansion of the chapel at the Northeast Louisiana Veterans Home.

The family wishes to express great appreciation for the amazing love and care provided to Carl & Jean this past year by their friend and caregiver, Anne Holcomb.  They also wish to express thanks to Dr. Roland Ponarski, the staff of Passages Hospice, and his North Crossings Church family.  In lieu of flowers, to honor Pastor Carl’s heart for serving others, donations may be made to the Outreach Ministries at North Crossings Church.