Rodney Hershell Owens

Rodney Hershell Owens, 47, of Timmonsville, SC, passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2023.  He was born in Florence County, the son of the late Hershell and Diane McKnight Owens.  He is also predeceased by his step-mother, Ellaveen Stone Owens; paternal grandparents, Leatha Jordan Owens Broach Fryer and Boyd Legrand Owens; maternal grandparents, Leo O’Neal McKnight and Sallie Elease Fitch McKnight; his significant other, Kyle McPhearson; aunts and uncles, RW and Dorothy Nell Owens Dennis, Randolph and Edith Broach Owens, Deborah McKnight Smith, Deloris McKnight Smith and Charles William McKnight; infant brother and sister, Patrick William Owens and Cynthia Diane Owens; four cousins, Richard Kevin Owens, Hartman Lee Evans, Randy Dale Owens and Rudolph Legrand Owens; step-cousin, Michelle Allen McKenzie and a step-uncle and aunt, Jimmy and Joyce Allen Broach.

Rodney was a 1999 GED graduate of Poynor Adult Center.  He graduated from Florence Darlington Technical College with an Associates in Arts degree, Francis Marion University with a Bachelor of Arts in English-Liberal Arts, and the University of Phoenix with a Master’s in Education in Adult Learning and Training.  He was a member of the Adult Education Honors Society in 2008.  Rodney worked as a substitute teacher in Florence School District 1 for 21 years, working at Southside Middle, Sneed Middle and West Florence High Schools.  He was an education advocate, LGBTQ+ advocate, a Democrat, an avid book lover and reader.  He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where he had many callings and loved researching genealogy. 

Rodney is survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members, Brenda McDaniel Brunson of Florence, James McDaniel of Charlotte, NC, Barry and Carmen Brunson, Brian and Kristian Brunson, all of Florence, Cynthia and Rich Verestrate of Arizona, O’Neal and Avis McKnight of Scranton, Cathy Weaver McKnight of Conway, Wanda Owens Evans of Effingham, Dexter Lynn Owens of Effingham, Jerry Dean Owens of Timmonsville, Angela Dennis Gaffney of Effingham, Robert Scott Dennis of Effingham, Jeff Ayers and his partner Thomas Lewis of Charleston, Gail Ayers Lyons of Plant City, Florida; and many cherished students and friends. 

A memorial service will be held at 6:00 PM on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at Cain Calcutt Funeral Home.  Inurnment will be at Tabernacle Free Will Baptist Church at a later date.

No flowers will be accepted.  Please make donations to your favorite charity.

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