Reverend Powell Harmon Lemons was born to Dora Lagonia and Lester Logan Lemons on September 26, 1945, in Amarillo, Texas. He married Darnelle Linzey Lemons on November 18,1967 and had 4 children. They were married for 32 years before her passing. Powell joyfully remarried his beloved Martha Granados Lemons on September 29, 2001.
Powell distinctly remembered being called to serve as a pastor when he was only 12 years old at the altar of his home church. While attending college, he became a tradesman in sheet-metal, like his father. He attended Southern California College for his bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Care and went on to earn a master's degree of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He attended Southern Baptist Seminary to earn a Doctorate in Counseling and Pastoral Care yet discontinued his studies during his final semester in order to care for his sick wife.
Powell was on staff at several churches in Southern California and obtained his first position as Senior Pastor in June of 1971 at Big Bear Assemblies of God in Big Bear, California. He then moved his family to Fresno, California in the summer of 1976 and pastored at Bethel Temple for over 40 years.
Notably, he led the planting of thousands of churches, both stateside and overseas. For decades he taught Greek, Hebrew, and various theological classes for colleges both in Central and Southern California as well as seminaries online and in the Philippines. He personally translated the apostle Paul’s epistles from Greek and wrote commentaries that are presently used for overseas ministers in training. Yet, despite these notable accomplishments, he would say his most important work was bringing others to salvation through Christ Jesus.
Powell has been preceded to heaven by his mother, Dora Lagonia, father, Lester Lemons, brother, Lester Lemons Jr., his sister Delores Lemons, his sister Mary Jones, his first wife, Darnelle Linzey Lemons, and his first daughter, Jennifer Sharnelle Lemons.
Powell is survived by his sister, Dr. Lana Heightly, and her two sons Richard and Rex Shull, and his nieces Rebecca Brown Lemons and Dr. Laurel Pilkinton. He is also survived by his beloved wife of 23 years, Reverend Martha Granados Lemons, and his 3 children, Reverend Powell H. Lemons II and his wife Raysa Lemons, Dr. Lauren Lemons Odell, and Ms. Linzey Lemons. Powell also took great pride in his 7 grandchildren, Greysa Lemons, Elijah Lemons, Jeremiah Lemons, Lucy Odell, twins Layla and Lily Lemons, Lukas Lemons, and his great-grandson Daxton Lemons.
Powell was very loved and will be deeply missed.
