- Date Of Death: December 22, 2021
- State: Massachusetts
Janet Henderson Palmer Owens
October 11, 1946 – December 22, 2021
Janet married John Owens from Boston, MA and they had a son, Brian Palmer Owens. She was a proud mother to Brian, a Senior Vice President of Commerce Advertising at VMLY&R. Her four-year-old granddaughter, Olivia Pelot Owens, was the apple of her eye.
Janet grew up in Roxbury, MA, and attended the Boston Public Schools, including Girls’ Latin School. As a child, she enjoyed dancing and often represented her school by performing calypso at outside venues. Janet, who was once described by her teacher as a “ray of sunshine,” graduated from Jeremiah E. Burke High School.
With her mom’s work as a social worker and her sister’s career as a guidance counselor, Janet came from a family committed to helping others. She was a dedicated and passionate educator, a caring mentor, and a strong role model and leader. Janet began her teaching career in 1969 at the William Monroe Trotter School in Roxbury as one of the youngest teachers on staff. For eleven years (1974 -1985) Ms. Owens then served as the guidance counselor at the Thompson Middle School, followed by ten years at Brighton High School. In her role as a school counselor, she specifically worked with students on career awareness and making sure that young people of all backgrounds had access to higher education opportunities.
In June 2007, Ms. Owens was appointed as Assistant Superintendent for the Boston Public Schools, working with more than forty schools throughout the city.
Janet was an active member of the Rho Epsilon Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Middlesex County Chapter of The Links, Inc., and The Girl Friends, Inc. She enjoyed all of her clubs and looked forward to their meetings each month.
Janet will be greatly missed by many people from different walks of life and will not be forgotten. She is survived by her son, Brian Palmer Owens; daughter-in-law, Danielle Pelot; granddaughter, Olivia Pelot Owens; sister, Estelle Palmer Hector; brother-in-law, Harold Hector; niece, Tracey Hector; nephew, Stephen Hector; niece, Bethany Taylor; great-nephew, Jayden Hector-Davis; great-niece, Evelyn Hector; cousins, Arnold Henderson, Jeanette Gerald, Frederick Boyd, Patricia Davis, Ernest Gambrill, Judy Gambrill, Lauren Henderson, Albin Xavier, Reid Boyd, and Katie Boyd; and family friend, Clifford Weeks.
Rho Epsilon Omega Chapter AKA
PO BOX 812351
Wellesley, MA 02482
ATTN: Designated for “Janet Palmer Owens Scholarship”
