Laura Anne Lewis Owens

Memorial services will be held this week for Laura Anne Lewis Owens, age 50, of Atlanta and formerly of Clarkesville, Georgia. Ms. Owens died on October 24, 2010, at her home following a courageous battle with cancer. Celebration of Life services will be held at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville on Wednesday, October 27, at 2:00 p.m. and at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church in Atlanta on Thursday, October 28, at 2:00 p.m. Visitation with the family will be held after each service.

Born September 27, 1960, to Rev. Furman and Jeanette M. Lewis of Clarkesville, Laura Lewis Owens devoted her life to her daughter, Sarah Anne, her family, friends and the profession of law. Ms. Owens graduated cum laude from the University Of Georgia School Of Law in 1985, and received her undergraduate degree with honors from Furman University in 1982. She graduated from Habersham Central High School in 1978.

Ms. Owens was a Partner with Alston and Bird in the Products Liability Group of the Atlanta office. She joined the firm in 1991 and became a Partner in 1995. She had 24 years of litigation experience and focused her practice on complex litigation including drug and device products liability, mass torts and class actions. She served as national coordinating counsel, science, MDL and local counsel in a wide variety of cases, particularly involving pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
As a trial lawyer, Ms. Owens achieved defense verdicts in catastrophic injury cases on behalf of her clients from Atlanta to Bangkok. Owens is listed for mass tort litigation in The Best Lawyers in America. She was a member of the American Bar Association's Products Liability Committee and its Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Consumer Products Subcommittees. She also served as an Advisory Board member of The Devereux Georgia Treatment Network. She was a member of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church in Atlanta where she sang in the Chancel Choir and volunteered her time for the women's ministry at Metro State Prison. In 2009, she enjoyed walking with her sister Susan in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure.

Laura Lewis Owens is survived by her daughter, Sarah Anne, of Atlanta; her parents, Rev. Furman and Jeanette M. Lewis of Clarkesville; sisters and brother-in-laws, Susan and David Ellis of Alpharetta, and Martha and Tony Reabold of Clarkesville; nieces Lila and Ansley Ellis; and nephews Geoffrey and Greg Reabold.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Laura's memory to either: Susan G. Komen for the Cure at www.komen.org or to the Arch Foundation - Law School Fund of the University of Georgia in memory of Laura Lewis Owens. (Mail to: Office of Development, University of Georgia, 225 Herty Drive, Athens, GA 30602).

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.hillsidememorialchapel.com.

Arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville. 706-754-6256