Ernestine Owens

Ernestine Thomas Owens, 70, of Elgin, passed away Saturday morning, April 11, 2020.  A private Home-Going Celebration will be conducted graveside at Sayers Cemetery on Wednesday, April 15th with the Reverend Steven Ward presiding.

Life Epitome

Beyond life’s golden sunset lies a city bright and fair;

In the land of God’s tomorrow our love one await us there

It’s a place of wondrous beauty where they know not grief or fear

When God himself in tenderness

Wipe away all tears…

Ernestine Thomas Owens , a lifetime resident of Bastrop County, was born to James Henry and Cora Ruby (Christmas) Thomas on August 28, 1949, being delivered by a mid-wife who yelled the number fourteen.  Ernestine was the last child born to this fast-growing family.  She was the baby and her sibling treated her as such, especially as she became a young lady.  Her brother, Willie was her hero and best friend.  Ernestine grew up in a strong Christian foundation home and entered a religious covenant with God at the age of six and was baptized at Mount Moriah Baptist Church under the care of the late Reverend R. A. Westbrook. Ernestine attended the local public schools of Bastrop County and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Elgin in 1967.  She is well remembered as being a marching Eagle under the leadership of Mr. Polk.

Having the opportunity to do some traveling, and obtained a higher education, Ernestine allowed the dust to settled, and she planted her roots in Beaumont, Texas where she worked as a surgical technician at the Baptist Memorial Hospital.  She remained there until Hurricane Katrina in 2005, leaving the hospital after thirty plus years.  Ernestine returned to central Texas, continuing to work in the surgery department at the St. David’s North Austin Hospital.  In 2012, became the caregiver of her sister, Erma Jean and united with her home church under the leadership of the late Reverend L. R. White.

This little God-fearing woman loved her family, enjoyed her friends and supported her community,

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!

Ernestine was called from labor to rest on April 11, 2020.  She is preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings: Katherine, Erma Jean, Alfred, John L., Edward, Ruthie Mae, Altha, Mary Lee, Ella, Willie, and Reverend James Henry.

Ernestine leaves a priceless legacy to be cherished by her only child, Ronnie Thomas, her siblings, Reverend Isaiah Thomas and wife, Jackie, of Victoria; Mary Jo Brice of Dallas, and Lorine Davis of Austin; and a host of nieces and nephews with a multitude of other relatives and friends including the Mount Moriah Baptist Church family. Ernestine will truly be missed by her ‘favorite’ nephew and nieces, Willie James Thomas, Lee Esther Vincent and Norma Vincent.