John H. Powell

April 23, 1933 – October 15, 2021

J. Hood Powell passed away on October 15, 2021. His daughters were both by his bedside during his final days. He is now reunited in heaven with his devoted and loving wife, Charis Coulter Powell, who preceded him in death by less than five weeks.

Hood was born and raised in the small town of Cairo, Georgia to loving and supportive parents, John Augustus and Velva Garber Powell. During his youth he enjoyed unique adventures and opportunities which could only be offered by living in a small rural town in the south. You should count yourself fortunate if he shared with you one of his many stories of his youth. Hood’s work ethic was developed early in life as he worked for many years before and after school in the family businesses.

His professional accomplishments began with an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. His twenty four-year career included a wide array of assignments. His academic acumen was noticed early resulting in an immediate appointment to the U.S Navy Postgraduate School where he earned two master’s degrees in oceanography and meteorology. As a Naval officer he was assigned to several unique duty stations around the globe. He was twice deployed to Antarctica as part of U.S. Department of Defense research and exploration mission known as Operation Deep Freeze. In addition, he served and conducted research in the Artic making him one of the very few men who served in both polar regions. Commander Powell’s career took his family and him to California, Virginia, Japan, Guam, Maryland, and Spain. While in Maryland he was assigned to The Pentagon. With every move, his three daughters were taught to respect their new communities and to remember they were guests in the countries they were privileged to live. Hood loved his country and was proud to serve it!

Hood was always learning. After retirement, he earned a third master’s degree in psychology as well as a teaching certificate. While designing and building a primary residence in Alligator Point, Florida he taught in the local school system. He also worked at the Environmental Protection Agency of Florida as an engineer in Gulf Breeze, Panama City and Tallahassee. Eventually, he and Charis launched a successful insurance agency and returned to Gulf Breeze, Florida.

Hood was an involved and faithful member of Gulf Breeze Rotary Club and the Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church. For many years he co-taught an adult bible study at GBUMC. He was an accomplished and published carpenter, music lover, amazing storyteller and wonderful and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was a constant student of the word of God, a gifted engineer, general all-around “Mr. Fix it” and managed to bring to every encounter a profound sense of humor.

We will miss him dearly!

He joins the angels who preceded him in death, Charis Victoria Coulter Powell his devoted love of over 70 years; his beloved daughter Charod Anne Powell; brother Jimmie Carter and wife Janice; parents Velva Garber Powell and John Augustus Powell; in-laws Sora Collins Embry Coulter and Clinton Huxley Coulter, Sr.; sister-in-law Sora Ann Coulter Gross and brother-in-law Ed Gross; brother-in-law Clinton Huxley Coulter, Jr.; and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is survived by brother Ike (Charlene)Powell; sister-in-law Melinda Morris Coulter; daughters Linda (Cliff) Vannoy and Vici (Greg) Papajohn; grandchildren Carroll (Haley) Papajohn, Riley Vannoy, Allison Vannoy, Dr. Grace (Evan) Papajohn Garfinkel, Sallie (George) Papajohn Neese, and great grandchildren Collins Victoria and Duke Augustus Papajohn, Thatcher Sy and Welles Powell Garfinkel, and many beloved nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Memorial gifts in memory of Hood Powell can be given to the Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church Committee on Relief or the Gulf Breeze Rotary Club Foundation.

A Joint Celebration of Life will be held for both John Hood Powell and Charis Coulter Powell on Monday, December 13 at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church at 11:00 am.