In July 1938, Lola Owens walked down the aisle of Harmony Baptist Church in Andalusia, gave her life to Christ and became a church member.
And 87 years later, she’s still there.
The church honored the 98-year-old on Aug. 17 as part of their homecoming celebration.
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Cathy Bozeman, a member of Harmony Baptist, shared during the service that Owens has always “had a willing heart to do whatever the church needed her to do.”
Over the years, Owens has served in a variety of ways — as a Sunday School teacher for preschool all the way to adults, a Vacation Bible School volunteer, church clerk, deacon’s wife, choir member and as a member of many committees.
‘Role model’
“In the area of loving others, Lola is a great role model for us all,” Bozeman said.
Owens is also a prayer warrior, she said. “At night in her mind, she goes down the roads around Harmony and into the community praying for everyone she knows and even for those she does not know.”
Bozeman said Owens is “zealous in her love for the church” and “her love and care for others never ceases.”
Lamar Harris, whose father was the pastor of Harmony Baptist from 1958 to 1961, said he has a long list of good memories of Owens and her husband, Dub.
But, he said, the “most important memory I have is still being played out — that is her service to God through Harmony Church.”
“When we talk, whether by phone or in person, it isn’t long before she will begin to talk about how God is blessing her and the church,” Harris said.
Pastor Scott Donaldson said Owens is “godly, gracious and gentle.”
“When I talk to Mrs. Lola, she is always concerned about others and wanting me to pray for them,” he said. “She always asks how I am doing and prays for me. She has a quiet and gentle voice and spirit. … Mrs. Lola is a wonderful role model that we all need to pattern our lives after.”
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