Obituary for Janet Lynelle Owens (Garrett)
Janet Lynelle Garrett Owens passed away on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at her home in Jacksonville, Florida after a long battle with breast cancer. Born in Darlington, South Carolina on January 4, 1953 to Fred D. Garrett, Sr. and Mamie Elizabeth Williams Garrett; the family then relocated to Greenville, South Carolina.
In Greenville, Janet attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School. She also became a member of Springfield Baptist Church, where she played the piano. Janet then graduated from Greenville High School in 1970 as a part of the first integrated class. Following graduation from high school, she matriculated and holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Russell Sage College in Troy, New York.
After graduating in 1974, Janet consecutively worked in city government in Greenville, SC and then in Adrian, Michigan. Her career path led her to Washington, D.C.; where she worked for International City Management Association and the District of Columbia. While working in D.C., she met and married the love of her life, Gregory Owens. They then moved to St. Augustine, Florida in 1984, before settling in Jacksonville, Florida later that year.
In Jacksonville, Janet reaffirmed her faith by joining St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. There her dedication, faithful service and commitment were exemplified by her active participation as choir/musical director, organist, building fund committee, Union of Black Episcopalians, Daughters of the King, leader of the Junior Daughters of the King, Episcopal Church Women, and Cursillo.
Janet’s community and professional involvement spanned three decades locally in Jacksonville and included Volunteer Jacksonville, Girl Scouts of Gateway Council Inc., United Way of Northeast Florida, and LISC Jacksonville. She was one of the founding members of the Urban Education Symposium and Profectus Charter schools; credentialed as a Certified Fund Raising Executive; was a certified Housing Development Finance Professional; a Paul Harris Fellow; served as a City Year Jacksonville board member; Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Board of Governors; JP Morgan Chase Florida Community Advisory Board member; Florida First Coast Chapter - Association of Fundraising Professionals board member and chapter President; North Florida Chapter - Public Relations Society of America; City of Jacksonville Better Jacksonville Plan - Finance Administration Committee; Leadership Jacksonville (Class of 1992); a member of Rotary Club of Jacksonville; Moles and Mules of Jacksonville; and the local chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. In 2009, she received the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council Women of Distinction Award. She was recently recognized by Leadership Jacksonville as an outstanding community trustee at its 2018 Leadership Celebration and in 2019 she received a University of North Florida OneJax Humanitarian Award.
Janet is survived by her mother Mamie Garrett; her loving husband of thirty-seven years, Mr. Gregory Owens; their three children Greg S. Owens of Washington, DC; Garrett (Natalie) Owens of Palm Coast, FL and Morgan Owens of Jacksonville, FL; her sister Leah D. Garrett and brother Fred D.”Doug” (Ramika “Sky”)Garrett, Jr. both of Greenville, SC; her niece Emerald Garrett of Washington, DC; her nephew A. D. Langston Garrett of Greenville, SC; her grandchildren Brittany Lee of Washington, DC; and Neah and Noah Owens of Palm Coast, FL and a host of other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
Community Hospice & Palliative Care
4266 Sunbeam Road
Jacksonville, FL 32257
or give online at https://www.communityhospice.com/give/
Mayo Clinic
200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905
or give online at
https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donateMC
In Greenville, Janet attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School. She also became a member of Springfield Baptist Church, where she played the piano. Janet then graduated from Greenville High School in 1970 as a part of the first integrated class. Following graduation from high school, she matriculated and holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Russell Sage College in Troy, New York.
After graduating in 1974, Janet consecutively worked in city government in Greenville, SC and then in Adrian, Michigan. Her career path led her to Washington, D.C.; where she worked for International City Management Association and the District of Columbia. While working in D.C., she met and married the love of her life, Gregory Owens. They then moved to St. Augustine, Florida in 1984, before settling in Jacksonville, Florida later that year.
In Jacksonville, Janet reaffirmed her faith by joining St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. There her dedication, faithful service and commitment were exemplified by her active participation as choir/musical director, organist, building fund committee, Union of Black Episcopalians, Daughters of the King, leader of the Junior Daughters of the King, Episcopal Church Women, and Cursillo.
Janet’s community and professional involvement spanned three decades locally in Jacksonville and included Volunteer Jacksonville, Girl Scouts of Gateway Council Inc., United Way of Northeast Florida, and LISC Jacksonville. She was one of the founding members of the Urban Education Symposium and Profectus Charter schools; credentialed as a Certified Fund Raising Executive; was a certified Housing Development Finance Professional; a Paul Harris Fellow; served as a City Year Jacksonville board member; Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Board of Governors; JP Morgan Chase Florida Community Advisory Board member; Florida First Coast Chapter - Association of Fundraising Professionals board member and chapter President; North Florida Chapter - Public Relations Society of America; City of Jacksonville Better Jacksonville Plan - Finance Administration Committee; Leadership Jacksonville (Class of 1992); a member of Rotary Club of Jacksonville; Moles and Mules of Jacksonville; and the local chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. In 2009, she received the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council Women of Distinction Award. She was recently recognized by Leadership Jacksonville as an outstanding community trustee at its 2018 Leadership Celebration and in 2019 she received a University of North Florida OneJax Humanitarian Award.
Janet is survived by her mother Mamie Garrett; her loving husband of thirty-seven years, Mr. Gregory Owens; their three children Greg S. Owens of Washington, DC; Garrett (Natalie) Owens of Palm Coast, FL and Morgan Owens of Jacksonville, FL; her sister Leah D. Garrett and brother Fred D.”Doug” (Ramika “Sky”)Garrett, Jr. both of Greenville, SC; her niece Emerald Garrett of Washington, DC; her nephew A. D. Langston Garrett of Greenville, SC; her grandchildren Brittany Lee of Washington, DC; and Neah and Noah Owens of Palm Coast, FL and a host of other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
Community Hospice & Palliative Care
4266 Sunbeam Road
Jacksonville, FL 32257
or give online at https://www.communityhospice.com/give/
Mayo Clinic
200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905
or give online at
https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donateMC