Edith D. Powell

Edith Gayenell Powell (Edi) was 78 years old when she left this world to be with her Lord and Savior. She has resided in Pensacola since 1969. She left this earth on Tuesday, June 11th, 2013 at home where she succumbed to various illnesses.

Edi was born in Lannett/Langdale, Alabama on Oct. 6th, 1934 to John E. Harris and Bessie (Smith) Harris. She had 5 siblings – John, Alice, Judy, Geneva & Everett.

Edith married Charles H. Powell on June 4th, 1955 in Shawmut, Alabama. There were married for 51 years until he passed in 2006.

Edi had many jobs she enjoyed including donut maker, nurse and shop steward at Armstrong Corp, were she retired due to health problems. She was a union member at Armstrong. She enjoyed many activities (we can’t list them all) such as bowling, gardening & gambling. Most of all, she took pleasure in watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren become the people they are today.

Edith was the wife of a lifelong Air Force man and lived all over the world (Japan, Italy, Texas, Nebraska, Michigan, Alabama, Mississippi, California & the Carolinas to name a few.) She also spent a short time in Tripoli, Libya where she gave birth to her only son.

During her husband’s military career, he was sent to Vietnam twice (once mistakenly) which upset her. She wrote a letter to Lyndon B. Johnson, who sent her a letter stating those kinds of mistakes shouldn’t be made, and he was ordering all branches of military to do everything in triplicate. Hence all this extra work for some, and a lot more paper used. This could have cost Charles a demotion had he had any knowledge of the matter, but he didn’t so things ended up okay.

She is survived by one sister Geneva Zimmerman of Illinois, her children Cindy Powell (David), Charlotte Bland (John), Carle Evans (Mark) and Jon Powell (Tammy) all residing in Pensacola. She is also survived by grandchildren Bryan & Shane Jolly, Alston Bland (Twyla), August Bucki, Anthony Powell & Dezerae Powell Leverett (Josh); and great grandchildren Caleb & Nathaniel Bland, Zyra & Lynx Powell, Aidan and Ayva Engler & Naomi Leverett. We all miss her immensely! Edith was funny, frank & friendly.

A memorial service, officiated by Chaplain Ken Griffin, will be held at Oak Lawn Funeral Home 619 New Warrington Rd on Monday, June 17th, 2013 at 6pm, with visitation and a reception one hour prior.

The family would like to thank all those at Covenant Hospice for all they did for her at the end & in lieu of flowers please send donations to Covenant Hospice (in memory of Edith Powell) to 5041 N 12th Avenue Pensacola, FL 32504. They are all angels there!! Oak Lawn Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.