May 2018. HK  John & Gwen's home in HK is decorated with amazing Chinese artisan wonders.  Their hospitality was boundless!

May 2018 HK >. At the Border Crossing from HK to the mainland

May 2018, HK  Gwen shared our grandfather's two books she was translating

May 2018, HK.  John & Gwen sharing their home and table w/ CNN too!

May 2018,  HK.   John is taking photo of us, giving respect to elders who have passed

It is with a very heavy heart that we say goodbye to John H. Powers — beloved husband of my late cousin, Gwendolyn Gong, and devoted father to their wonderful daughter, Devereux. John and Gwen were extraordinary family members who, by their example, enriched the lives of everyone they touched — family, friend, and passerby alike.

They were extraordinary hosts to me in Hong Kong. Traveling alone, I was under their watchful eye as they guided my journey into mainland China — where I found our Sit family village of Juk Waan in Guangdong, visited the homes, our ancestral grave sites, and our ancestral hall. It was through their guidance that I was able to acquire our Sit Family Chinese Generations Book, the Jiapu — where our family poem defines each generation, thus allowing us in America to follow tradition in providing Chinese names to our American-born Chinese family members, a custom set down in the 1300s. It is a gift that will reach generations to come.

John lived his love for family, for country, and for democracy in both word and deed. Above all, the love he and Gwen shared for their wonderful daughter, Devereux, shone through in everything they did. His values, his devotion, and the legacy he leaves behind were unmistakable to everyone who knew him.

John and Gwen are together again now, and we believe they are still looking out for Devereux and all of us who were blessed to know them.

Rest in peace, John — you and Gwen will never be forgotten.

— Don & Susan Sit

John was a neighbor of mine in Arlington and a friend. He loved talking about his family, travels, and academic life. He truly loved his family and I have vivid memories of Gwen and John walking up Queen Street in Arlington, always holding hands. You could see and feel the love they had for each other. Also John loved to talk about Deveraux and how proud he was of her. His face lit up whenever he talked about her and that was often. John was a very gentle man and very easy to talk with and an incredibly good listener. He will be sorely missed. May his memory be a blessing.
                                Lou Goldblum

I came to know Prof Powers through Prof Gong. Both of them have played an important role in my life. 

I was then working for Prof. Powers’ Art of Persuasion program at Hong Kong Baptist University. He was a dedicated program director, a supportive mentor, and a respected scholar.  During my time in this program, Prof. Powers introduced me the art and beauty of language in communication and inspired me to pursue interdisciplinary research at the intersection of linguistics and communication. 

I have been and will be always grateful for his generosity, kindness, and inspiration.  
Prof. Powers now joins Prof. Gong in Heaven. May you rest in peace. My deepest condolence to Deveraux. Please take good care of yourself, with lots of love.

Michelle Huang

I came to know Prof Powers through Prof Gong. Both of them have played an important role in my life.
 
I was then working for Prof. Powers’ Art of Persuasion program at Hong Kong Baptist University. He was a dedicated program director, a supportive mentor, and a respected scholar.  During my time in this program, Prof. Powers introduced me the art and beauty of language in communication, and inspired me to pursue interdisciplinary research at the intersection of linguistics and communication.
 
I have been and will be always grateful for his generosity, kindness, and inspiration.
  
Prof. Powers now joins Prof. Gong in Heaven. May he rest in peace. My deepest condolence to Deveraux. Please take good care of yourself, with lots of love.

Michelle Huang

John and Paul. Paul semester abroad at Hong Kong Polytech. You guys taught him how to eat well.

John and Gwen ever the best hosts took us in and showed us their favorite places. It included ducking into a 7-Eleven in a metro terminal to grab a Chinese pastry.

On the piers northern end of New Territories.

(July 2022, DC) at the end of my first trip to Arlington, I asked Profs for a favor, “teach me something interesting about the use of English that is specific to your origin” and so I got this video clip to share. The glow when a lifelong teacher teaches, never ceases to inspire me.

(Oct 2014, Hong Kong) We celebrated Prof Gong’s birthday and Prof Powers was posing with her and the pair of champagne glasses we gifted them.

(Sept 2023, Arlington) that was the last day we spent together and a last drive, Prof Powers driving me to the airport. I was watching them key in the route thinking “when will we get to do this again?”

(Sep 2010, FoTan Hong Kong) that one of the oldest photos I have of Prof Powers and Prof Gong, sharing a night with us, their students from CUHK, a meal at our favourite taipaidong. Those were some of the best times during my early adulthood.

Professor Powers was always here celebrating us with Professor Gong.

2015 Professor's Gong birthday with students from Chinese University of Hong Kong.

2016 Professor Gong's birthday with students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Although deeply saddened by the passing of John, I believe he and Gwen are together again, happy and at peace on the other side. I will always cherish the kindness and gentle patience he showed me. They both hold a truly special place in my heart, and I will carry their memory with love and gratitude. 

My heart goes out to you, Devereux and Pi.

Taken in our group’s annual “tree-trimming”gathering.

Prof Powers was a true educator and a profound scholar, but more importantly, he was defined by his extraordinary kindness. He had a way of making everyone feel seen and valued, and that warmth has left a permanent mark on my heart. 

Looking back at all the pictures we took together, I am moved by the joy in his eyes and reminded of just how much I will miss his presence. Knowing that John is now reunited with his beloved Gwen, who was such a dear mentor and mother figure to me, brings a sense of peace amidst the sadness.

Devereux, my heart is with you. I hope you find comfort in the incredible legacy of love and wisdom your parents left behind. Take care. You are in my prayers.

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Prof. Powers, our esteemed former colleague in the School of Communication. I had the privilege of knowing Prof. Powers since 2010, when we collaborated on implementing e-learning technology for his public speaking course.

I will always remember his warm smile whenever we met on campus. He was unfailingly friendly and his care for others was evident in his words and actions.

We extend our deepest condolences to Prof. Powers’s family, friends, and all those whose lives were touched by his wisdom and kindness. The loss of such a remarkable teacher and friend is deeply felt by all, and we will hold his memory in our hearts.

John and I had been colleagues at Hong Kong Baptist University for over a quarter of a century. Both John and Gwen were generous, humorous, passionate, and understanding. I always seek for John's advice as he is wise. When the department was in turmoil, he listened to me and comforted me. When my son wrote a problematic college application essay, I asked John to take a look and see what would be needed to fix it.
John and Gwen were the nicest couple I met. They were my role models in parenting and maintaining healthy work-life balance. It was so enjoyable to be around them. I attended John's 50th and 70th birthday party and were surrounded by his beloved students and friends. 
My condolence and prayer to John's and Gwen's family.

No words can fully express my gratitude for who he was in my life. Prof. Powers was, and will always be, my teacher.

The way I teach now, the pedagogy I believe in, and the values I hold about education are all profoundly shaped by him, by his teaching, and by his patience. He was the one who first saw in me the potential to become a good teacher. More importantly, he made me believe that this could be my career.

In so many ways, without him, I would not be who I am today.
I will always remember not only his guidance as a supervisor and teacher, but also his kindness on a personal level. It meant a great deal to me that he and Prof. Gong joined my family’s gatherings and discussed tennis with my mom excitedly. That memory remains very dear to me.

Please accept my deepest condolences. I carry his influence with me every day in my teaching, and I will always remain thankful for the gift of having learned from him.

Your mom and dad with Virginia in Hong Kong.  I think this would have been around 2009, before Virginia and I got married?  Hong Kong was their happy place.

This would have been in Jackson, probably at my dad’s 80th.

Your Mom and Dad were so special to us.  I can’t think of one of them without thinking of the other.  Just a lovely couple.   Always holding hands.  They were both a big influence in my life.  Your dad was one of the smartest, kindest, most patient men I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.  I remember him coming to Mississippi to help Grandpa and Grandma Gong.  Just a really great role model as a husband, son-in-law, father, uncle, and great uncle.  He taught me to chop firewood while I was at Texas A&M, and your folks got me out of a few scrapes as well.  Just so much to think about.  The Dongs Arlington miss both of them— and they were always together, like peas and carrots, as Forrest Gump would say—terribly.  Much love always.  the Arlington Dongs

Dearest Mr. Powers,

Although we are apart, your voice and laughter have echoed in my heart from the first day I knew you. Every memory has truly become a treasure, and I will always cherish the love we shared.

With heartfelt sympathy

OBITUARY

John Henry Powers

October 7, 1947 – April 23, 2026

National Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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