Rev. Melvin Eugene Owens was born in Rosemont, West Virginia on April 8, 1942. He was the 6th child born of his parents Willie and Enetta Owens totaling, a family of ten.

Melvin attended Lincoln School in Rosemont, WV. In 1952, the family relocated to Akron, OH where he attended the Akron Public Schools. Melvin’s first job was at the Summit County Senior Citizen Transportation Service, also known as the United Services for Handicapped. He also worked as a transportation driver at Vault Oil Company and Jeter Systems Corporation.

At an early age he gave his life to Christ, being baptized at Beulah Baptist Church in Akron, OH, under the pastorship of Rev. Thomas Allison. He became ordained in 1985, at Peoples Baptist Church, under the leadership of Dr. George W. Goodman. He followed the footsteps of his maternal and paternal grandparents, Pastor Tommie Woods and Deacon Henry W. Owens. He went on to minister at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church under Bishop Marc L. Neal. He was a member of the House of the Lord under the leadership of Bishop F. J. Johnson, II until his death. He also ministered outside of the church to the pockets of the community to make the invisible seen, to give them dignity, and to let them know their worth.

Rev. Owens was full of life, he loved to laugh and make others laugh. He liked to make everyone smile. Family always came first, there was nothing he would not do for the ones he loved. Rev. Owens had a keen sense of style, he always dressed to impress! He enjoyed nature by taking walks in the Cuyahoga Valley parks. Most of all he adored and treasured his pets: Nadia (Miniature Schnauzer), Coco Puff (Shiba Inu), and Socks the cat.

He had a special loving relationship with his nieces and nephews that grew and grew with the passing of time; so much so that when God called Rev. Owens home, at 12:28 a.m. Monday morning, he was not alone.

Rev. Owens is preceded in death by; parents, Willie and Enetta Owens Sr.; brothers, Willie “Law”, Paul and Donald “Satch” Owens; sister, Florence I. Taylor; niece, Barbara Janelle Purdy; nephews, Everett “Squeekie” Dalton, Jr. and Damon Owens. He leaves to cherish his memory; loving sisters, Shirley Matthews and Mildred “Bitsy” Owens-Bibby; brother, Rev. Howard (Beverly) Owens; sister-in-law, Delores Owens, all of Akron; longtime best friend, Jefferson LeRoy “Roy” Loftin, a host of nephews, nieces, other relatives, and so many friends.