Pinetops -

It is with heavy heart and great sadness we announce the passing of Margaret Annette "Annie" Owens. Annie, born to Margaret Barfield Owens and Herndon Tuttle Owens on June 16, 1954, was raised in Tarboro, NC. After graduating from Tarboro High School in 1972 she worked for a few years at Edgecombe General Hospital before enlisting in the United States Air Force and achieving the rank of Master Sergeant. While serving tours of duty both stateside and overseas, which included Desert Storm, she received highest honors for her performance.

Her love of education lead her to achieve two Masters in Education. Once retired from the military she began a career in education coming back home to North Carolina where she taught in Nash and Edgecombe counties for over 20 years. One of her greatest loves was teaching. She once stated "her students were her children".

Through the years she continued another great passion…the loving and caring for stray cats. She would feed them and whenever possible, capture and have them spayed or neutered. Some of her students will remember the stories she would share about her Jake, Maryann, Minnie Pearl, Maggie May and so many others.

Her love of her cats was only seconded by her love for family and friends. She was a beloved sister, aunt, cousin, niece and a dear friend who will be greatly missed. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Owens Valera and sister-in-law, Tina Owens. She leaves a loving family that includes two sisters, Katherine Owens Abbott of Tarboro and Ellen Owens Colaneri (Bert) of Hampton, Va. and brother, Matthew Owens of Pinetops. She enjoyed being aunt to her nieces and nephews, Heather Abbott Pachnar (Raymond), Lauren Abbott Bell (Dustin), Jordan Abbott (Rachel), Falyn Owens Knowles (Isaac), Nicholas "Nick" Colaneri (fiancee' Michelle), Brandon Valera, Victor Mitchell, Athena Walters (Wayne); and great nieces and nephews, Tyner, Logan, Carleigh and Emmy Kate Bell, Myles and Saylor Pachnar, Carson and Jaxon Abbott, Brody, Summer, Grayson and Emma Walters.

It would be her wish that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite pet rescue, spay/neuter program or ASPCA.

The family will host a special time of remembrance on Sunday, August 18, 2024 from 3:00 - 5:00pm at Sunset Church of God, 1709 Anaconda Road, Tarboro, NC 27886.