Martha Louise McLeod and John Doster Owens

DR. JOHN DOSTER OWENS was born July 15, 1908 in Ocilla, Irwin, Georgia,^{12022, 456} and died August 21, 1978.⁴⁵⁶ He is buried in Stubbs Cemetery, Abbeville, Wilcox, Georgia.⁴⁵⁶

He married MARTHA LOUISE MCLEOD on August 1, 1942 in Methodist Episcopal Church, Abbeville, Wilcox, Georgia,¹²⁰²¹ daughter of MARIE JEANETTE SAWYERS and WIMBERLY MCLEOD. She was born February 22, 1918 in Jacksonville, Duval, Florida,^{456, 12020} and died June 17, 1973 in Wilcox County, Georgia.⁴⁵⁶ She is buried in Stubbs Cemetery, Abbeville, Wilcox, Georgia.⁴⁵⁶

Macon Telegraph and News, August 9, 1942¹²⁰²¹

Miss Martha McLeod Wed To Dr. Doster Owens

ABBEVILLE, August 8—The marriage of Miss Martha Louise McLeod, niece of Miss Irene McLeod of Abbeville, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wimberly McLeod of Brownville, Texas, to Dr. J. Doster Owens of Rochelle, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Hardy Owens, was solemnized Saturday, August 1, at the Methodist Episcopal church in Abbeville.

The Rev. W. C. Byrant, pastor of the Attapulgus church, performed the double ring ceremony in the presence of a large circle of relatives and friends.

Mrs. Walter Brown of Fitzgerald played the wedding music. An invisible choir was composed of Miss Edith Oliver, Miss Carolyn McRae, Miss Odessa Wooten, Miss Myrtice Ford, Mrs. M. R. Tucker and T. L. W. MacDonald, soloist.

Usher groomsmen were Nelson Giles, C. E. Richey, Sam R. Owens and Douglas Smith of Rochelle. Dr. Owens chose John Thomas Smith of Atlanta for his best man.

Mrs. Huey D. Giddens of Milledgeville, was matron of honor. Junior bridesmaids were Mrs. W. B. Pate of Atlanta and Mrs. P. S. Dixon of Dublin.

The attendants were gowned alike in models of yellow marquisette, the bodices featuring a sweetheart neckline and the tight fitting sleeves forming points of lace over the hands. The long full skirts were trimmed with rows of narrow yellow lace. Their bouquets were talisman roses.

The ringbearer was Clark Standard, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Standard of Rochelle.

The bride chose a wedding gown of white marquisette posed over satin. The fitted bodice featured a sweetheart neckline, long sleeves pointed over the hands, and inserts of wide lace in the long full skirt. A halo of orange blossoms caught her train-length veil of illusion to her hair. She carried a bouquet of white bride's roses showered with valley lilies. Her only ornament was a heirloom necklace of gold, a gift from her parents, the pendent encircled with pearls and diamonds.

Following the ceremony the bride's aunt entertained with a reception at the club house. Receiving with Miss McLeod and the bridal couple, were their parents, and the bridesmaids.

Miss McLeod was gowned in blue and chiffon. The bridegroom's mother wore a blue crepe model, and the bride's mother was gowned in pink net. Their corsages were of roses.

Mrs. George B. Morgan, aunt of the bride assisted in the entertaining. Miss Edith Murray, Miss Carolyn Shackleford, Miss Sugette Shackleford and Miss Ann Standard and members of the chorus assisted in serving. Mrs. Tommie D. Wilcox of Pineview kept the bride's book. The bride is a granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mr. George F. McLeod of Abbeville, pioneer settlers of Wilcox county. On her maternal side she is the granddaughter of Mrs. G. B. Sawyers and the late Mr. Sawyers of Jacksonville, Fla.

The groom is a grandson of Mrs. John A. Owens and the late Mr. Owens and the late Mr. and Mrs. John P. Doster of Rochelle. For the past six years he has been engaged in general medical practice in Wilcox county.

During the evening the couple left for a wedding trip, after which they will reside in Rochelle. The bride traveled in a frock of navy crepe with accessories of navy and white. Her corsage was orchids.

Out-of-town guests were: Mrs. Kenneth McCulloch, Mrs. G. B. Sawyers, Mr and Mrs. O. W. Johnson, Jacksonville, Fla., Mrs. Robert Sailors, St. Petersburg, Fla., Mrs. Jeff Suencher, Miss Eugenia Paxson, John Thomas Smith, Proctor Snow, Mrs. Martha Simms, Mrs. W. B. Pate, Atlanta, Mrs. Adam Bowman, Miss Jane Bowman, Johnson City, Tenn., the Rev. and Mrs. W. C. Bryant, Attapulgus; Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Ware, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Brown, Fitzgerald; Jack Morgan, Mrs. Marvin Vinson, Mr. and Mrs. E. Oliver, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. White, Miss Laurie White, Valdosta; Mrs. R. F. Hobbs, Miss Mary Julia Doster, Milledgeville; Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Carnes, Mrs. B. E. Carnes, Jimmy Murray, Cordele; Mrs. Tom Ragan, Miss Elsie Ragan, Miss Estelle Ragan, Mrs. Jeff Harrell, Mrs. Lowell Bragg, Hawkinsville, Mr. and Mrs. T. D. Mitchelle, Homerville; Miss Sudie Wilcox, Eastman; Capt. N. C. Johnson, Fort Bening; Mr. and Mrs. Hendley McLeod, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Dennary, Mr. and Mrs. Red McLeod, Miss Rose McLeod, Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher McLeod, Miss Jane McLeod, Mrs. Phlett Doster, Mrs. H. D. Wilson, Mrs. T. D. Wilcox, Pineview; Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Tucker, Bainbridge; Mrs. P. S> Dixon, Dublin; Albert Fuller, Mrs. F. F. Bond, Sibbie; Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Richey Sr., Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Estes, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Richey Jr., Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Holt, Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Young, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mashburn, James Robinson, Mrs. Herman Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Steubens, Norman Doster, Jim Crummey, Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Pearce, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Smith, Mrs. Wendell Fitzgerald, Mr. and Mrs. W. T Standard, Clark Standard, Joe Ann Standard, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Laidler, Mary Lou Laidler, John S. Laidler, Mrs. L. W. Doster, Mr. and Mrs. J. Hardy Owens, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Owens, Mr. and Mrs. J. Hyatt Owens, M. M. Stephens, Cecil Crummey, Carolyn Crummey, Gloria Crummey, Rochelle, Mr. and Mrs. Wimberly McLeod, Brownsville, Texas.

Macon News, June 18, 1973¹²⁰²⁰

Mrs. Martha Owens

ABBEVILLE — Services for Mrs. Martha McCleod Owens, 53, who died Sunday, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Abbeville United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Stubbs Cemetery.

Mrs. Owens was born in Jacksonville, Fla., and lived most of her life in Wilcox County. She was a member of Abbeville United Methodist Church and a charter member of the Martha McCleod United Daughters of the Confederacy chapter. She was a graduate of Wesleyan College.

Survivors include her husband, Dr. J. D. Owens of Abbeville; a son, John D. Owens Jr. of Rome; step-mother, Mrs. Wimberly McCleod of San Benito, Tex.

Frazier and Sons Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Macon Telegraph, September 25, 1978¹²⁰²²

A Special Doctor

With the passing of Dr. John Doster Owens Sr., Abbeville, on Aug. 21, Wilcox County lost a good friend, an outstanding doctor, and one who was a source of strength and inspiration to citizens of the county for over 50 years.

Dr. Owens was born in Ocilla in 1908. He was the son of the late James Hardy and Nannie Doster Owens of Rochelle.

Dr. Owens will long remain in the memory of Wilcox Countians. He was held in high esteem by those who had the privilege to know, understand and appreciate him.

Dr. Owens graduated from Rochelle High School in 1925 and held degrees from the University of Georgia and Augusta Medical College. He interned at Duval County Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in New York. He made 10 trips to the Near East as the ship's doctor on a luxury liner.

Because of the great need for a doctor in Wilcox County, Dr. Owens returned to Rochelle where he opened an office in 1938. He later married the former Marth McLeod of Abbeville. They have one son, John Doster Owens Jr.

For 40 years in the county he devoted his life, as a rural doctor, to giving of himself totally to serving mankind. He was a man endowed with many fine qualities and with many natural abilities.

He was generous, kindly, and thoughtful. Above all else, he was just and fair and a humble servant who in many ways touched the lives of all in Wilcox County.

Individually and collectively the passing of Dr. John Doster Owens leaves a great store of memories. Wilcox County citizens will continue to reflect upon the memories of one whom everyone loved.