Owen Perkins

Mr. Owen Perkins of 106 Glendale Street, Greenville, South Carolina, departed this life on Monday, April 1, 2019. He was born on July 28, 1941, in Greenville County, the tenth child of the late John Maxwell and Mable Collier Perkins.

Owen graduated from Sterling High School in 1959. He was an outstanding student and athlete. He was a member of the National Honor Society, president of the student council his senior year and captain of the Sterling Tigers football team. Owen was voted senior superlative, “Best All Around Male Student”. Upon graduating from high School, he received a full four year football scholarship to South Carolina State College. After graduating with honors from South Carolina State College, he worked briefly for the railroad before getting drafted into the army. While in the army, he served in Vietnam. When Owen returned home, he was employed by Greenville Technical College until his retirement. He retired as Dean of Students. In 1991, he received a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Development from Clemson University. He did further postgraduate studies at the University of South Carolina.

He was a Born Again Christian. He gave his life to Christ at an early age when he joined Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Later in life, he joined Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. One of his missions in life was to assist students financially so that they could attend college while encouraging others.

During and after his working career, Owen was very active in local civic and religious activities. Being an active member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Owen worked with and helped spearhead many local charity events. He was voted “Omega Man of the Year” in 1975 by Mu Pi Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. In 2002, he was awarded a plaque for forty years of service to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Ten years later, he was awarded a certificate for fifty years of dedication and service to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Owen was the recipient of the Outstanding Family Award on December 15, 1991.He also served on the Board at the Greenville Cultural Exchange Center. Owen served as president of the Sterling High School class of 1959 reunion for several years. He was also a member of the South Carolina State Alumni Association.

God sent three earthly angels, Cheryl Hunter, Violeita Irby and Kenneth Sullivan, to be their uncle’s caretakers. They always coordinated their schedules to make sure his needs were met. Uncle Owen was always surrounded by loving angels.

Mr. Perkins is survived by his wife, Gloria Porter Perkins. He is also survived by a daughter, Sonya Goolsby of Greenville, SC, and a stepdaughter, Briggitt (Anthony) Rhodes of Piedmont, SC; one sister, Indiana (Douglas) Thomas of Greenville, SC; two brothers, Raymond (Jade) Perkins of Greenwood, SC, and Grady (Natalie) Perkins of Garner, NC; two special nieces, Cheryl (Eric) Hunter of Greenville, SC, and Violeita Irby of Simpsonville, SC; a special nephew, Kenneth (Carolyn) Sullivan of Simpsonville, SC; grand-children, several nieces and nephews and a host of relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two wives, Joyce Prease Perkins and Ruth Henry Perkins; two sisters, Johnnie Mae Perkins Landrum and Virginia Perkins Smith; five brothers, Chambers Perkins, Henry Perkins, Charles William Perkins, Bennie F. Perkins and Joe M. Perkins.