Rebecca Henderson Powell

Rebecca (Becky) Henderson Powell beloved mother and family matriarch passed away Thursday, February 18 surrounded by her family in Tallahassee, Florida. She was a wonderful and loving wife, sister, daughter, and friend and the best mom and grandmother ever. Becky was born in Irwin County, Ga. on June 28, 1923, the 3rd child to Lenox T. and Edna Loftis Henderson. She grew up and graduated from Tifton High School in Tifton, Ga. in l940. Later, she attended Georgia-Alabama Business College in Macon, Ga. where she worked for the U.S. Corps of Engineers in the building of Cochran Field Army Air Force Training Base (later Macon Airport) and Warner Robins Air Force Base during World War II, and where she met and married Prince Smith Powell on December 21, 1941. They were married for 61 years when he preceded her in death on October 15, 2002.

Becky and Prince lived in Miami for 34 years where she worked for Florida Power &Light Company as an Executive Secretary. She retired in February of 1978 and moved with Prince to Whittier, N.C. until 2000 when they moved to Tallahassee to be near her daughter because of her husband’s illness. Both she and her husband were members of Coral Gables Methodist Church and Killian Pines Methodist Church in Miami, the First United Methodist Church of Sylva, N.C. and Deer Lake United Methodist Church, where after Prince’s death she devoted much of her time volunteering in the church office.

Becky was preceded in death by her mother and father, Lenox and Edna Loftis Henderson; husband, Prince Smith Powell, Sr.; brother, Lenox Henderson, Jr.; sister, Dorothy Price; grandson, Kenneth (Kenny) Powell; and son-in-law, William (Billy) Ellison. She is survived by her son, Prince Smith (Smitty) Powell, Jr. & Diane (her 2nd and very beloved daughter) of Walton, Kentucky; daughter, Janice Powell Ellison (Chris McKendree); three grandchildren, Curtis Powell (Stephanie) of Walton, Kentucky; Charles (Charlie) Ellison of Tallahassee; and Amanda (Mandy) Rebecca Ellison of Tallahassee; sister-in-law, Ethel Henderson; four great-grandchildren, Kyle, Tyler, Brandon, & Caitlyn Powell; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Funeral services will be at 12 Noon on Wednesday, February 24 at Deer Lake United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fender Cemetery Fund c/o Odessa Bradford, 67 Nass Hendley Circle, Lakeland, GA, 31635.