Rev. Carroll C. Owen

Rev. Carroll Cortland Owen, age 102 of Brentwood, TN, passed away on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at Canterfield Senior Living in Brentwood, TN.

He was born in Elvins, MO, on November 13, 1922, to the late Elbert Dee Owen, and the late Ethel Ledbetter Owen. He grew up in Missouri, received his B.A. from Southeast Missouri State University, and his M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

On June 9, 1950, Carroll married Joy Elaine Campbell Owen, who preceded him in death in 1981. In 1988, he married Barbara Lumpkins Owen, of Brentwood, TN, who survives.

Carroll was a U.S. Army WWII Veteran, where he served as a member of the 406th regiment, 102nd Infantry Division, in the European Theatre of Operations. He was later awarded a Bronze Star and a Combat Infantry Badge for his time served.

Carroll was Assistant Pastor at First Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA from 1950-1952, then served as Pastor of First Baptist Church of Rogersville, TN from 1952-1960. In 1960, the family moved to Harrisburg, Illinois where he pastored First Baptist Church of Harrisburg from 1960 until 1962. In 1962, the Lord called him as Pastor of First Baptist Church, Paris, Tennessee. He spent 16 years at First Baptist Church-Paris, before joining the Tennessee Baptist Convention as Director of Convention Ministries. In 1988, Carroll joined Belmont University as Interim Dean of the School of Religion, and he retired in 1990. He served as interim pastor in numerous churches throughout Tennessee after retiring and continued preaching well into his 90s.

Throughout his time in ministry, Carroll served on the Tennessee Baptist Executive Board, as Tennessee Baptist Convention President, Tennessee Baptist Pastor’s Conference President, Board of Trustees of Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, TN, Board of Trustees of Baptist Hospital Nashville, TN, a trustee of Union University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He also served as a trustee of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Foreign Mission Board. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree from Union University in 1978.

In addition to his wife Barbara Lumpkins Owen, Carroll is survived by three children, Elaine Owen (Karl) Jones of Wilsonville, AL, Jo Ellen Owen (Linc) Taylor of Franklin, TN, and Dan (Janae) Owen of Jackson, TN; three step-children, Charles Fly, Barry Fly, and Jaynie (Lee) Floyd; 13 grandchildren, Whitney Owen, Austin Owen, Ryan (Amanda) Jones, Grace (Mac) Johnson, Joy Beth (Jake) Higdon, Lynna (Nathan) Mell, Hannah Fly, Sarah Fly, Maddie Fly, Elijah Fly, Cayla (Dylan) Armstrong, Chandler Floyd, and Camille Floyd; and six great-grandchildren: Beau Higdon, Campbell Higdon, Thaddeus Johnson, Dominic Armstrong, Weston Jones and Hudson Jones.

In addition to his first wife, Joy Elaine Campbell Owen, and his parents, Carroll was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Merrily Ann Owen, one sister, Myra Owen Dahlor; and two brothers, Franklin Owen, and Dean Owen.

Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap Street, Paris, TN, 38242, is handling the arrangements. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Ridgeway Funeral Home. Visitation will precede the service at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Baptist Church-Paris, 313 N. Poplar St., Paris, TN, 38242.