Gwen Monk

Gwendolyn Owens Monk passed away on June 28, 2021, in Abingdon, VA. She was born in Jackson, Mississippi on October 28, 1930. She was the daughter of the late Herbert Sidney and Stella Holliday Owens of Jackson. She is survived by her oldest sister Esther Busby of Starkville, MS. She graduated from Forest Hill High School in 1948. She attended Belhaven College and Millsaps College, where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. Gwen married James Taylor Monk, Jr. of Jackson, Mississippi on October 27, 1951. They were married 58 years and had 4 children: Melinda (Jesse) Brent of Kennesaw, GA; Sidney Franklin Monk of Kirbyville, TX; Angela (Dave) Benge of Jonesborough, TN; and Sheila (Scott) Matteson of Abingdon, VA. Gwen had 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Special family friend near and dear to her heart was Bobby Shields of Louisville. Gwen and J.T. were longtime residents of Louisville, MS, where she was active in the community. They were members of First Methodist Church and attended the Ed Livingston Sunday School class and she served on the Altar Guild, where she loved using her talent of arranging flowers. She was a member of Nanih Waiya Chapter of the DAR, where she served as Regent and in various other officer roles through the years. She initiated the fund-raising project and served as chair of the annual DAR Christmas Tour of Homes for many years. Gwen was also involved in the Louisville Junior Auxiliary, Louisville Garden Club, Louisville Junior Fortnightly Club, and the Winston County Republican Party. She was selected as Winston County Woman of the Year in 1998. After J.T.’s death in 2009, she married Aubrey Temples of Irving, Texas. They were married for 8 years. Since his death, she lived near her daughters Angela and Sheila in both Virginia and Tennessee, where they were blessed to assist in her care. A funeral service will be held Saturday, July 3, 2021, at 11:00 am at Porter Funeral Home Chapel, Louisville, MS, with visitation from 9:00-11:00. A graveside service will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Rev. Mike Childs of First Methodist Church will conduct the service. Pallbearers will be grandsons and husbands of granddaughters. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Methodist Church, P. O. Box 523, Louisville, MS 39339 or French Camp Academy, 1 Fine Place, French Camp, MS 39745-9703.