Obituary of Joan Theressa Owens

Mrs. Joan Theressa Owens, age 70, of Baltimore, transitioned to be with the lord after a short period of illness, Friday, April 16, 2021, at home in Baltimore. Mrs. Owens was born July 22, 1950 in Prince George County, VA. A Homegoing Celebration service for Mrs. Owens will be held on Tuesday, April 27 at St. Joseph's Monastery Parish, 3801 Old Frederick Road, Baltimore, MD, where the family will receive friends from 10:00am until 11:00am with services to follow. The interment will take place at Loudon Park, Baltimore on Tuesday, April 27 immediately following services. Obituary Joan "Theressa" Owens, beloved daughter of Johnny and Geraldine Moss, was born on July 22, 1950 in Prince George County, Virginia. She departed from her earthly body to be with the Lord on Friday, April 16, 2021, after a short period of illness. She was raised in Baltimore by the late Herbert Gross and Geraldine Gross. She attended Baltimore City Public Schools and graduated from Southern High School on June 4, 1968. On April 13, 1972, she married Louis Avon Owens, her childhood sweetheart. Together they nurtured four daughters. To her girls there was nothing she couldn't do. She had a natural gift for decorating and found ways to enhance her home regularly by creating floral arrangements, painting, getting fabric and reupholstering her furniture, etc. She styled hair, not just ponytails or plaits – her finger-waves, roller-sets and French braids were top notch. She pierced their ears, sewed, self-taught herself to do acrylic nails, she just never stopped. She earned an Associates of Arts degree in Accounting from Baltimore City Community College. In December 1983 she began her career with Baltimore City Government's Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP). She received the Keep the Lights on Award for her dedication and service to keeping Maryland's energy assistance community safe and warm. She retired in December 2020 after thirty-seven years of exemplary service as a Contract Compliance Officer with the Mayor's Office of Home Energy Programs. She cared deeply for those in need and during her career helped thousands of households and families keep their lights on. She was affectionately known to family and friends as Theressa. Theressa looked for the good in everyone and sought ways that she could support them, their desires and dreams. Aside from her many hobbies, she enjoyed reading, cooking, baking, and most of all, spending time with her family. Theressa and her husband were known to host dinner for the holidays, birthdays and impromptu gatherings at their home and in their younger years they organized cookouts at the beach or Carroll Park. That little Chevette was up and down the road and packed like a "clown" car with people and all the resources needed to have a good time. She and Avon also enjoyed playing the slots at the local casinos. Her laughter was infectious, and her bright and beautiful smile will be sorely missed. Joan was preceded in death by her mother Geraldine Rantum, her father's Johnny Moss, Herbert Gross and Arthur Rantum, and her brother Calvin Gross. She leaves to cherish her memories, her husband Louis Owens; children Dominique Harmon, Mingtel Collins (Leaniel), Avonette Blanding (Maurice) and Lateasha Owens; siblings Johnny Moss, Cheyeanne Queen (Mark), Stephanie Moss, Herbert Gross (Cindy), Montique Gross (Cynthia), Donyae Gross (Kim), Latoria Webb, Karen Rantion, and Donna Pratt; sisters-in-law Jean Owens, Gloria Ratcliff and Gloria Cross; brothers in-law John Harrison, Edward Owens Jr., Jerome Owens, James Owens, Ellsworth Owens, five grandchildren Sasha Harmon, Rashaan Harmon, Leaniel Collins, Jordyn Blanding, and Jasmine Blanding; two great grandchildren Jamal Harper Jr. and Titan Harmon; goddaughter Damita Green, godson Arthur Jackson, a host of nieces and nephews; three special friends Joan, Aline and Valerie; as well as many other devoted loved ones and friends.