OWENS Dorothy King Owens died Nov. 27, 2005, on a Sunday morning, at Stroud Manor Nursing Home in East Stroudsburg, Pa., at the age of 88. She lived most of her life in Jacksonville, Fla., where she worked for the State of Florida Department of Social Services. Mrs. Owens was born Feb. 24, 1917, in Decatur, Ga., to Warner and Lillie Marie Thomas King. She was married for more than 50 years to Paul L. Owens, Sr., who preceded her in death, as did a sister, Mary Alice King Herring. Mrs. Owens was valedictorian of her high school graduating class in Decatur, and was a graduate of Morris Brown College in Atlanta. She was a faithful member of Mount Olive A.M.E. Church in Jacksonville, where she was secretary of the Trustee Board, teacher of the Sunday school's adult women's Bible class, secretary of the S.G. Baker Club and a member of the choir. In the Jacksonville community, Mrs. Owens was the founder of Gamma Omicron Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and was a member of the Gallant Ladies Social Club and of choral groups. Mrs. Owens is survived by her son, Paul L. Owens, Jr., O.D., M.D., Sc.D., of Stroudsburg, Pa., and her daughter, Paulette Owens Long, J.D., LL.D., of New York City. Other survivors include her son-in-law, John C. Long; nephews Joseph (Jazz) Otis, Alvin L. Otis, Hilbert Otis, Herbert Otis, Jessie Otis and William D. Otis; nieces Mary (Lena) Manning, Clementine Smith, Pauline Otis, Marguerite Blackmon and Annie E. Ivy; grandnieces Cassandra Blackmon, Yvette Blackmon Young, Shatena Ivy and Nicole Ivy; and godchildren Josetta Arnold, Joseph Liptrot III, Justin Liptrot, Judy Liptrot, James B. Anderson, George W. Washington III, J.D., and Anastacia M. Washington, Ed.D. Visitation will be from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at Carthage Chapel Funeral Home, Inc., 929 W. Beaver St., Jacksonville, with a special ceremony there at 7 p.m. by Gamma Sigma Rho Sorority. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Mount Olive A.M.E. Church, 841 Franklin St., at Pippin St., Jacksonville, with the Rev. Granville Reed III, D.D., presiding. Interment will follow in Edgewood Cemetery, Jacksonville. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Sigma Gamma Rho Scholarship and Educational Fund to honor Mrs. Owens's devotion to higher education and her encouragement of youth to excel. Checks may be made payable to Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc., and mailed to P.O. Box 40333, Jacksonville, FL 32203-0333. Carthage Chapel Funeral Home, Inc., 929 W. Beaver St. Kenneth Peele, Jr., Director. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com