Judith Faye "Judy" (Bowen) O'Steen

Mrs. Judith Faye “Judy” Bowen O’Steen, 74 of Blackshear, passed away Saturday, July 10, 2021, at the Hospice Satilla Hospice House following a courageous battle with cancer.

Born in Waycross, GA on October 16, 1946, she had lived in Pierce County most of her life. Mrs. O’Steen was a 1964 graduate of Blackshear High School and was a 1968 graduate of Florida State University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics Education. She began her thirty-two year career as a mathematics teacher at Ava Street High School in Waycross. Mrs. O’Steen also taught at Blackshear High School, the former Southwood School, and Pierce County High School where she remained until her retirement in 2005. During her teaching career, she furthered her education by acquiring her master’s degree in Secondary Mathematics Education as well as her Specialist degree in Secondary Education. She was a member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics as well as Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority for educators for which she held several offices at the chapter, district and state level. Mrs. O’Steen loved to travel, never tired of learning something new, and always enjoyed being on the water whether it was saltwater fishing or just being at her family’s vacation home on the coast. After retiring, she became a Master Gardener and was a member of the Daylily Society, learned to paint, and made quilts as a member of the Okefenokee Heritage Center’s Quilting Guild. Mrs. O’Steen was a member of Blackshear First Baptist Church where she was in the Workers for Christ Sunday School Class.

She was the daughter of the late William Stephen “W.S” Bowen, Sr. & Ruth Alafae Jones Bowen.

Survivors include her loving and devoted husband of nearly 51 years, Beal O’Steen of Blackshear; her daughter and son-in-law, Pamela & Greg Baker of Patterson; her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Matthew & Mary Katherine O’Steen of Mt. Pleasant, SC; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Stephen & Deborah Bowen of Savannah and Sonny & Jane Bowen of Blackshear; a sister-in-law, Janis (Ronnie) Harris of Blackshear; two brothers-in-law, Kenneth O’Steen of Blackshear and Doys (Sherry) O’Steen of Patterson; 5 grandchildren: Ben Baker, Mary Bowen Baker, Crawford O’Steen, Lillie Campbell O’Steen, and Coleman O’Steen; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services for Mrs. O’Steen will be held Tuesday afternoon, July 13, 2021, at 1 o’clock at First Baptist Church Blackshear.

Interment will be in the Waters Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home.

The family kindly requests members of the Workers for Christ Sunday School class as well as members of the Blackshear High School Class of 1964 to serve as honorary pallbearers. Please meet at the church by 12:30 Tuesday.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, GA 31501 or to the Pierce County Academic Booster Club, PO Box 1147, Blackshear, GA 31516.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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