Mr. Ethridge James “Sonny” Powell, Jr. – a longtime resident of Semmes, AL passed away Wednesday, April 14, 2010. Sonny was born August 8, 1941 in Mobile. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. After the Navy, he served in the Merchant Marines. Mr. Powell eventually retired from the State of Alabama (Albert P. Brewer Center). He was preceded in death by his parents, E. J. Powell, Sr. and Luverne L. Powell. Mr. Powell is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sharon Sheppard Powell; children, James David (Kelly) Powell of Fairhope, Jennifer Diane Powell of Semmes, and Jeffrey Frank (Stephanie) Powell of Mobile; three grandchildren, Megan Christine Powell of Chattanooga, TN, Katherine Brooke Powell and Andrew Brock Powell, both of Mobile; one sister, Carolyn Cranford of Mobile; numerous other relatives and friends. A memorial service will be held at Crawford United Methodist Church on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 11 A.M. with visitation beginning at 10 A.M. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to the American Heart Association or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of South Alabama.
