Bernadene Pearl Garrett-Owens

Bernadene  Garrett Owens, affectionately known as Pearl by her family and friends,  was born to William Garrett and Evezine Calloway Garrett of Benevolence, Georgia on August 29, 1929.  Following years of illness, Pearl transitioned to be with the Lord on Monday, July 9th while a patient at Albany's Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.  She was a graduate of Lumpkin High School and upon completion of High School; she joined a host of family members who had moved north to Hartford, Connecticut. Life flourished for Pearl in Hartford.  She met and fell in love with a handsome young man named Nathan Owens, and in 1949, they were married, Nathan predeceased Pearl.  Pearl joined the Hopewell Baptist Church of Hartford, Connecticut and was active until leaving Hartford to return to Georgia in 2007.  Pearl who had always desired a career in health services, trained to become a Licensed Practical Nurse and moved on to become a Registered Nurse and earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut.      Pearl's life revolved around her nursing career and family.  For many years, she was a faithful member of the Nurse's Unit of the Hopewell Baptist Church, and she was a member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., a professional association for registered professional nurses.  She was generous with her advice and oversight of her growing Connecticut family and paid special attention to the new generations of Garrett's in the northeast.  Bernadene was the fourth of nine children. She is predeceased by brothers: Omar Aqueel (Johnnie B) of Birmingham Alabama, Allen of Detroit Michigan, Augustus of Albany, Georgia and Willie James Jr. of Cuthbert, Georgia and one sister, Susie Mae Delaney of Alabama. She leaves to mourn her passing: sisters; Louvenia McLendon, Williett Barnes and Lillie Mae Prince, all of Hartford Connecticut, and one brother, Patterson of Sarasota, Florida.  She also leaves two sisters' in law, Lydia Aqueel of Birmingham, Alabama and Mattie B. Garrett of Sarasota, Florida and one brother in law, the Reverend Horace Mitchell now living in Alabama, along with a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.  The family wishes to express special thanks to Pearl's cousin, JoAnn Garrett, and her niece, the Reverend Linda Garrett, for their care and oversight of Pearl upon her return to Georgia and in her final days.