Yvonne Owens Criswell

Yvonne Marie Criswell-Owens was born in Greenville, South Carolina, on July 15, 1952, to the union of Minnie Kilgore and Luver Criswell. She moved to Boston,Massachusetts with her family in the early 1960s.

As a child, Yvonne joined the Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts. She was formally educated within public schools in the Boston metropolitan area, graduating from Wellesley Senior High School (Wellesley, MA) in 1970. She later received a certificate in nursing from the Newton-Wellesley Hospital School (Newton, MA) in 1981.

After moving back to Greenville in 1981, Yvonne married Laurence A. Owens, Jr. The couple went on to welcome two children into their home: Matthew and Jessica. Her children remember her as loving mother who always encouraged them to pursue their goals.

Yvonne entered employment at the Greenville Memorial Hospital in 1981. She worked as an accomplished nurse for 35 years, receiving much recognition for her profound commitment to patient care and professional development. She was a dedicated member of the New Pilgrim Baptist Church, serving for many years as a Sunday School teacher and chairperson of the church’s Health and Media ministries.

Yvonne departed this life on Tuesday, October 8, 2019. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and a sister, Carolyn Criswell. She is survived by her children, Matthew C. Owens (Central, SC) and Jessica A. Owens (Mauldin, SC); her siblings, Betty J. Walker (Dorchester, MA), Anita L. Criswell (Dorchester, MA), and Willie E. Criswell (Quincy, MA); and a host of loving relatives and friends.

She is remembered as a studious individual with a passion for thorough knowledge. She had a specific zeal for Biblical theology and was known to spend countless hours researching various scriptures and topics.

In addition to her intellectual pursuits, Yvonne was an avid traveler with a well-known enthusiasm for cruising. Though she had many unaccomplished voyages at the time of her transition, we are comforted knowing she has reached the perfect destination in the presence of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.