As soon as students walk in the door of the Tiger Den, the smell of fresh chicken Phillies entices their taste buds. The sizzling grill rings through the ears and down to the stomach like a fire alarm blaring, 'let's eat!' It is time to indulge them in a culinary pleasure that "Miz Jean' Mason-Owens will provide.
When you walk up to the counter you are greeted with a smile. Then you hear a strong voice say "What you want baby?"
Looking down from the menu, you would expect to see a towering woman with an apron and a grandmotherly face, but instead your eyes gaze upon a petite woman who is more than she seems.
Owens' short stature fails to give the correct impression of her strength, and she will tell you, she's not going to "take any mess off of anybody."
Owens was born and raised in Memphis and since 1990 she has been cooking up a storm in the Tiger Den Grill and she doesn't plan on leaving.
"Every time I think about leaving, I think about the students. I think about who is going to take care of them, because no one takes care of them like I do. If it's not good enough for me then, it is not good enough for you," said Owens.
Students agree. Everyone who crosses Owens' path leaves refreshed and with a new attitude.
"She's like a mother. She watches over us and makes sure we're ok, and she shares her wisdom with us," said U of M student Andrea Hollingsworth, junior.
Owens' positive outlook on life and her pleasant demeanor make her the well- respected woman that she is. Especially in trying situations, when one of her co-workers was in distress, Owens was there with open arms and words of wisdom.
"The other day my money was stolen and Ms. Jean was the main person consoling me," said Tamara Webster, sophomore. "She gave me a lot of encouragement."
Owens is constantly building up the students of The University of Memphis. She talks with them about God and she tells them to stay in school, she also gives them anecdotes to solve the problems of everyday life.
"My thing is I always want to help other people," said Owens. "I always try to go the extra mile no matter how tired or busy I am. I try to always be there. God is real! He does for me, and that makes me want to do for others."
In 2002, Owens faith was tested by a nearly fatal car accident. She said it was during this near death experience that she realized just how much prayer could strengthen the soul.
"A lot of prayers were going up for me," Owens said. "It showed me that someone is always watching, and God is good all the time."Before students get to the counter, she says "I already know (the order)." She never wants people to do without and she loves to see people happy.
"If I can make someone else smile, I forget my troubles for that day," said Owens.
According to her co-workers, making them smile is the one thing Owens does best, besides making her award winning chicken Phillies.
"I love her," said Jessica Johnson Sophomore. "I come over here ever now and then and she listens to my problems. She's like a mama. She's sweet as pie and she makes your food just right."
Owens said she enjoys talking to the students and co-workers, making the work environment a pleasant one.
"It is fun working with her, she makes the time go by quickly," said Nizar Frigui, co-worker.
Even her supervisor said that working with Owens is a privilege.
"She is a great sales person," said Jason Nall, local manager of the Tiger Den. "She always gets people to try new things and she is dependable."
Nall said that Owens is virtually irreplaceable and that if she ever decided to leave she would be terribly missed.
"We would never want to have to replace her. She is a big part of the personality of the Tiger Den," said Nall.
Aside from being a great person in their eyes, her co-workers feel more like family towards her.
"She doesn't act her age," said Hollingsworth. "She's like one of the girls."
While telling her adopted children to follow their dreams Owens has a dream of her own.
"I want to own my own restaurant," said Owens. "You only get out of life what you put in to it so if you want the world you have to put your all into it and wait for God to bring you the rest. Keep God first and everything will work out later."
