Laura "Bea" Owens

Laura “Bea” Owens, 93, daughter of the late James Tompkins and Anna Laura Tompkins Hayes, went to meet her Lord and Savior “Face to Face” on Friday, October 25, 2024. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, Richard V. Owens; her brothers, James L. Tompkins, Robert “Bobby” Tompkins, William Price Tompkins, and Harry Eckenroth “Ecky” Tompkins; her cousins who she loved like brothers, George Tompkins, Jr., Ollie P. Tompkins, Kenneth Tompkins, and Ralph Tompkins; and a special niece, Paula Tompkins Smith. Before leaving to enjoy new challenges and endeavors, Laura was a long-term employee of The IBM Company. Her contributions over the years helped establish IBM as a leader in the industry and built the foundation for an exciting, new beginning for the corporation. After the death of her father, Bea spent some of her formative years at the “Lexington Colored Orphan Home,” now known as the Robert H. Williams Cultural Center. Around the age of 10, she moved to Little Arkansas with her mother and stepfather. After returning to Lexington, she united with the East Second Street Christian Church under the tutelage of her “Guardian Angel,” Rev. O. B. Garner. Later she was led by the Holy Spirit to join her husband at First African Baptist Church where she was a faithful and devoted member. She had a heart to serve and the voice of an Angel! Granny Bea, Momma Bea or Queen Bea, as she was affectionately known, loved and cared for all her babies from the neighborhood, church, schools, and communities near and far! A special thank you to the “Daughters of Oakwood.” She leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Diana Gentry, Calvina Mason, Barrie Tompkins, Terona (Brian) Johnson, John (Annette) Murray, Robert Murray, Stacy R. Owens, Tracy Owens Holmes, and Jamie (LaRon) Owens-Patton; “granddaughter,” Lisa (Lulu) Duvall; her grandchildren, Dietrich Murray, Charisse (Bernie) Lyle, Richard (Cassandra) Mason, Stefan (Dana) Mason, Derek (Flora) Mason, Tracey Murray, Barry (Bebo) Tompkins, Jr., Alexandria Tompkins, Kimberly Whitley, Kapri Burnett, Kyla Burnett, Marcus Owens, Aaron Holmes, Jr., and Lauran Owens-Mundy; as well as a host of great- grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and all of those who knew and loved her as Momma Bea.

Laura "Bea" Owens

August 14, 1931 - October 25, 2024

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Laura "Bea" Owens

August 14, 1931 - October 25, 2024

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support