Obituary

Erma Owens

February 25, 1934 - April 11, 2026

Erma Owens was born February 25, 1934 to Ben and Bertha Middleton at their home at Pioneer, LA. She passed from this life on April 11, 2026, at her home in Shreveport, LA.

Erma was the fourth of seven children; one boy and six girls. Life on the farm was not easy. Due to her dad having only one leg, he could not follow the horses and plow. Her brother, being the oldest, did that. However, when Erma was around fourteen, her brother married and moved to Texas. The two older sisters had also married. Erma became the "plow boy". She filled the job until she finished high school and later moved to Shreveport.

Erma attended The First UPC of Shreveport (now King's Temple) where Rev. J. Roy Weidner served as her pastor.

In 1959, she married the love of her life, Rev. M. D. "Daulton" Owens. They moved to Hattiesburg, MS where they built a church. With one chair, and an ironing board for a dining table, they sacrificed to give to the work of God. Later they pastored in Livingston, TX, and Bastrop, LA. They moved to Scranton, PA where they started another church. Then they came back to LA to pastor in Shreveport, Jonesboro, and Bogalusa. They had a desire to be missionaries and did deputation to go to Trinidad/Tobago/Barbados. They never got to fulfill that desire, so they became pastors at Ringgold, LA. The last pastorate before retiring was back in Bogalusa. Erma was always by his side, working, singing, and reaching for people.

As a widow, she continued being faithful in working, singing, and reaching for souls as long as she was able. She fought a good fight. She finished her course. She kept the faith. Now, her crown is waiting. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Erma is preceded in death by her husband Rev. M. D. Owens, parents, Ben Middleton and Bertha Middleton Rushing, brother B. F. Middleton, sisters Mary Eldridge, Ottie Westerburg, and infant Martha Middleton. She is survived by daughter Jeanette Owens, grandsons Rev. Jarod Needham (Laura) and Lt Col Jonathan Needham (Amber), great-grandchildren Valarie Needham Watson (Sebastian), Erika Needham Dearborn (George), Keira Needham, Remi Needham, Jaxon Needham, Judah Needham, James Needham, great-great-grandchildren Kate Watson, Alice Watson, sisters Myrtis Poole (Len), Elaine Harville, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Pallbearers will be Darrell Anderson, Craig Harville, Cortez Johnson, Jaxon Needham, Remi Needham, and Kevin Poole.

Honorary pallbearers will be George Dearborn, Robert Guyton, Chris Harville, Pastor Stephon Jones, Javaria "Bubba" Linnear, Gervante Murphh, Leonard Nicholson, Chad Rachal, and Sebastian Watson.

Family will receive friends from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., Friday, April 17, 2026, and continuing from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Kings Temple United Pentecostal Church, Shreveport, Louisiana. Interment to follow at Forest Park Cemetery, Shreveport, Louisiana.

Riley Smith & Sons Funeral Home and Cemetery in DeQuincy, La. is in charge of arrangements.