Sheila Nichols-Owens

Sheila Nichols Owens is a native of Manhattan, New York. She was born to the late Mary Nichols and George Perkins, who were natives of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

In 1968 she graduated from Charles Evans Hughes High School in Manhattan, NY. After graduating, she started working at the Manhattan Developmental Center as a Mental Health Therapist, where she worked for 17 years. During those years, she acquired vocational training through various institutions dealing with children and adults who were living with mental disabilities and dietary constraints.

In 1976, Sheila Nichols married Roosevelt Owens and the Lord blessed this union with eight children.

In 1980, the Lord saved Sheila Owens and filled her with the Holy Ghost at Greater Emmanual Temple, where the late Bishop Allen McDaniel was the Pastor. Soon after, she began to have a hunger and thirst to do God’s work and serve His people. Her areas of service included ushering, cleaning the church, serving with the Radio Ministry (called Hour of Joy), and she transported ministry tapes between New York and New Jersey. Bishop McDaniel saw that Sheila had a higher calling, so he licensed her as a Missionary. Sheila developed a hunger for God’s work and enrolled in the Manhattan Bible Institute for theological studies in order to enhance her knowledge of the Word.

Later in 1989, she and her family relocated to Virginia Beach, Virginia, and she soon became a member of Holy Light Church of Deliverance in Portsmouth, Virginia where Bishop Samuel Caruth was her pastor. For three years she served this ministry as a prayer warrior and at the Christian Broadcast Network (CBN) operating the prayer phone lines.

In 1991, Sheila transferred her church membership to Faith Deliverance Christian Center in Norfolk, Virginia, under the leadership of Bishop Barbara Amos. Here she became involved in the Evangelistic ministry and participated in various activities to share The Gospel, such as knocking on doors and going through the streets, compelling people to come to Christ. She was active with the Hope ministry, where she served the homeless and preached in front of the Norfolk Scope every month. She also began to serve the Effingham Plaza nursing home by singing, praying and eating with the residents. Sheila was also a Right of Passage mentor, which helped young girls learn about their culture, heritage and teach them life skills to help them grow to become real women. This mentorship connected her to pregnant girls who needed housing. Once she helped deliver a baby for a pregnant teen, she knew her focus would expand to include this type of ministry.

Sheila also loved working with boys of all ages. She believed the lost of one of her sons caused her to connect with these youths on a spiritual level. God blessed her with seven additional sons that she did not birth and she was proud that they all grew to be productive men in society.

In 2002, Sheila graduated from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia, with a Certificate in Theology. Then in 2005, she graduated from Norfolk Seminary and College in Norfolk, VA, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology and Counseling. What a marvelous accomplishment.

In 2004, Sheila began attending New Jerusalem COGIC under the leadership of her former classmate, the late Bishop Barnett Thoroughgood. She served this ministry as a Licensed Elder for 12 years. It was here that she met Bishop Ezekiel Williams and was led of the Lord to sew into him birthing Faith World Ministries. In February 2016, Elder Owens officially joined with Bishop Williams as a member of Faith World. Her faithfulness to the ministry and its people elevated her to the office of Associate Pastor in October 2017. She also became a member of the International Fellowship of Chaplains in September 2018 and served the last 5 years as a Senior Chaplain.

Pastor Owens had a heart for God’s people of all ages and was determined to share the love of God with all she encountered. This led her to establish the Golden Phenomenal Gems ministry group in 2022, which provided exciting outings, activities and gifts to seasoned saints over the age of 55.

From 2005 up to her transition, Pastor Owens owned and operated the residential home, Eeagles Nest LLC, which providescare for adults with intellectual disabilities. She was honored to be blessed of God to fulfill her vision and utilize her abilities to help those in need

She was predeceased by one son, Maurice Nichols; two sisters, Joyce Nichols and Lorraine Nichols-Broadnax.

Pastor Sheila Nichols Owens leaves to cherish her memories, her husband of 48 years, Roosevelt Owens; three sons: Kevin Nichols, Stephen Owens and Kareem Owens; four daughters: LaShawn Owens, Kendra Nichols (Montora Chappell), Cherie Owens, and Shareem Owens; eleven grandchildren; one brother, Eugene Nichols; three nieces, one great-nephew; and her best friend of 50 years and sister from another mother, Gail Reed. In addition to their own children.