Dr. Jessie Davis Owens Day Honors Local Educator Who Taught Music for 50 Years
by James Coulter
Having spent more than 50 years teaching music in Winter Haven, Dr. Jessie Davis Owens was honored for her contributions as an educator not only with an official city proclamation, but also by being inducted into the Polk County Hall of Fame.
At their regular meeting of the Winter Haven City Commission on Monday evening, Mayor Pro-Tiem Nathanial Birdsong read an official proclamation declaring Oct. 14 to be Dr. Jessie Davis Owens Day in honor of the legacy of the local educator.
Born on Oct. 3, 1945, Dr. Owens has served as a music educator in Winter Haven for more than 50 years. She retired as a choral director from Polk County Public Schools after 42 years, and she currently serves as an adjunct professor of music at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and Polk State College (PSC). Her career reflected her personal motto: “Transforming Lives Through Arts.”
In October 2012, Dr. Owens founded the Dr. Jessie Owens Academy of Fine Arts, which is located at 1708 2nd St. NE in Winter Haven. As the proclamation explains, the school “offers musical education to low-income students in the public school system, primarily to students who aren’t able to get this type of education in their schools.”
Dr. Owens was also honored for her career and legacy by being inducted into The Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance during a ceremony on Oct. 15, 2024, at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven.
Dr. Owens attended the city commission meeting for the proclamation and to have her picture taken with the city commissioners. In her comments, she thanked the city commission for recognizing her efforts throughout her 50-year-long career.
“It is indeed an honor and a privilege to be able to accept this award and to be recognized for a passion that I dearly perform every day,” she said.
