Stephen George Powell

Stephen George Powell, 52, died on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at Springhill Memorial Hospital in Mobile, AL. His final days battling interstitial lung disease were spent surrounded by family and friends that loved his insatiable zest for life. Steve, as he was known to friends and family, was born on February 21, 1959, in Warrington, England while his parents, George Frederic Powell and Dorothy Neff Powell were stationed overseas at a U.S. Airbase. Shortly after birth, Steve moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts where his family lived at Monument Beach while stationed at Otis Air Force Base. After 10 years there, the family was transferred to Keesler Air Force Base and moved to Ocean Springs where Steve excelled in high school sports and began his work career. Steve was an avid swimmer who held the state record for the 50 and 100 yard freestyle while competing with the Keesler Dolphins. He was a 1977 graduate of Ocean Springs High School who was named Gulf Coast Defensive player for the Ocean Springs Greyhounds. In addition to swimming and football, Steve also dominated the basketball court and participated in a number of track and field events throughout high school. He was voted Class Handsome, Class Favorite and Most Athletic by his classmates. Always known for his strong work ethic and strength, Steve began loading lumber trucks at the age of 14. He was later promoted to Manager of Ocean Springs Lumber Company where he worked for more than 20 years. After leaving there, Steve moved to Alabama where he worked for McEwen Lumber and later by American Lumber. He later returned to work in his "home" state at Mississippi Phosphates and also with Performance Contractors as a Safety Representative. In each of these positions, Steve made life-long friends, but expressed that there was no work environment on earth that compared to the wonderful employees of Performance who supported him in such kind and generous ways as his illness progressed. Steve shared an incredibly blessed marriage of 21 years with his wife, Debbie Taylor Powell, whom he married on March 3, 1990. The two first settled in Ocean Springs, MS and later made their home in Mobile, AL where they attend Dayspring Baptist Church. The NASCAR enthusiast also enjoyed outdoor activities of any kind and spending time with family who always enjoyed his quick wit and willingness to help with any project or task. Steve, who always loved adventures, has bicycled across the Colorado Rockies and Blue Ridge Mountains and looked for any opportunity to enjoy athletic activities during his lifetime. His physical strength was only surpassed by his giving, generous heart that made him a beloved husband, son, brother, father, uncle and friend. Steve is survived by his wife, Debbie Taylor Powell of Mobile, AL; his daughter Elizabeth Powell Jernigan of Memphis, TN; sons Seth Aaron Powell and Stephen Andrew Powell of Mobile, AL; mother, Dorothy Neff Powell of Ocean Springs, MS; sister, Kathy Powell Scarbrough of Vancleave, MS; brothers Thomas Wayne Powell of Ocean Springs, MS and Benjamin Andrew Powell of Carriere, MS and a host of family including nieces, nephews and friends who will greatly mourn his passing. He is preceded in death by his father, George Frederic Powell of Sacramento, California and grandparents Dr. Frank and Hilda Neff of Arvada, CO and Drs. Burton and Gladys Powell of Lorraine, OH. Services will be held Saturday, May 21, at noon at Mobile Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 20 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral arrangements will be handled by Mobile Memorial Gardens located at 6100 Three Notch Road, Mobile, AL. For more information, contact Mobile Memorial Gardens at (251) 661-1333 or visit www.mmgfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please send any memorial gift to The American Lung Association or Dayspring Baptist Church in Mobile, AL. The family of Stephen George Powell would like to express their gratitude to the incredible staff of doctors and nurses who provided Steve with the most compassionate and professional care during his last days of life and the employees of Meadowlake Elementary School and Performance Contractors who have gone above and beyond to provide love, comfort and encouragement during Steve's illness.

Steve's faith and humor never failed him as his illness continued to progress. The verse that most applicably sums his triumph over his struggle is 2 Timothy 4:7-8 ""I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

If a man's worth is measured in friends, then, this was a truly rich man.