Music Executive Edna Anderson-Owens Passes Away at 76

BroadwayWorld has just learned that music executive Edna Anderson-Owens, portrayed by Saycon Sengbloh in the Broadway musical MOTOWN, has passed away. She was 76 years old.

Edna Vernelle Anderson was born August 5, 1938, in Bluefield, West Virginia, the first child born to the union of Amanda H. and John Douglas Anderson. She matriculated through the public school system of Bluefield and graduated from Genoa Park Central High School, #4 in her class. She went on to study at her father's alma mater, Wilberforce University/ Central State College (now Central State University), an historically black college, in Xenia, Ohio, graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration. Sparked by her father's own love of sports, she ran track and participated in other sporting activities.

Edna and her family went to Washington to participate in the historic gathering that heard Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech, which left a lasting impression on her.

Her early employment record and her life reflected a clear focus on activism and civic responsibility.

In 1970 she applied for a position in California with Junius Griffin, head of Publicity & Community Relations at Motown. When he saw she was from Bluefield, West Virginia and that "Doug" was her father, he hired her on the spot. "Your father paid my last semester's tuition. I wouldn't have finished college if it hadn't been for him."

Edna was excited about working for Junius, who had worked and traveled with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Working for him continued to stimulate her activism and motivated her even more to be involved with civil rights and black causes.

When Junius left Motown, he recommended her for a position with Berry Gordy, as an assistant. Edna turned the opportunity down, telling him she felt "Black people can't get ahead at Motown." Mr. Gordy responded, "It's people like you who are holding us back. Do you want the job or not?" Forty five years later she was still working for him, his right hand and closest confidante, Co-CEO/Co-Chairman of TGC Management, LLC, (a Gordy owned, intellectual property company in Los Angeles), having risen through the ranks, and holding a sequence of titles. A fierce activist for her cause, she became an equally fierce activist for Berry Gordy and his mission for Motown: to make music for all people. She worked closely with Gordy in a various capacities, providing confidential assistance in business, family, social, political and philanthropic matters. Edna accompanied him on business trips around the world. She interacted with entertainers and top executives from media, finance, music, philanthropy and government and held key relationships with attorneys, accountants, consultants and several Presidents of the United States.

Edna reconnected with her long-time college friend and fellow track teammate, Curtis Owens, and they married on New Year's Day, 1989.

Edna lived a full life. She enjoyed spending time in Washington, D.C., to visit her family, and especially to see her beloved Washington Redskins. She was a fan in the true meaning of the world - fanatic - flying in for season openers and attending as many home games as she could, decked out in full Washington Redskins regalia.

She and Curtis enjoyed Saturday golf outings with Los Angeles Sentinel's Danny Bakewell and his wife Aline, and golf trips with the Swingin' Sistahs on their annual blast to Cabo San Lucas. An avid pinochle player, she enjoyed card games with her boss and other regulars.

In 2000 Edna was appointed by Governor Gray Davis to the board of the California Science Center in Los Angeles for two consecutive terms, serving as Chairman of the Board in 2006 and 2007. Near the end of her term in 2009, she was again appointed to the board, this time by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and was recently appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve another four-year term

On June 13, 2015, Edna passed away, with family and friends at her bedside. To cherish her memory she leaves Curtis Owens, her husband of 26 years, his son, Derek Owens and grandson, Tyler Owens; her 101-year old mother, Amanda Anderson and younger sister Janice Anderson; three very special cousins, Dr. Clyde Luck and his wife, Janet, Dr. Albert Luck and his wife, Merle, and Dudley Williams; two godsons, Michael and "Little" Eddie White; and special friends Berry Gordy and Eskedar Gobeze, Danny and Aline Bakewell, Julie and Leo Bandini, and a host of cousins, relatives and friends.

Charles Randolph Wright, director of Berry Gordy's musical story of Motown, said it best: "The only light in this darkness right now is that Edna shines brightly eight times a week in Motown the Musical."

In lieu of flowers, donations (tax deductible) may be made to either of the following non-profit organizations in honor of Edna Anderson-Owens:

Sabriya's Castle of Fun Foundation Debbie Allen Dance Academy

3800 South Crenshaw Boulevard Att: Steve Brown

Los Angeles, CA 90008 3791 Santa Rosalia Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90008