Ellis Jean Zirbel Powers was born to William Frederick Zirbel and Annie Lee Raby Zirbel on June 25, 1932 in Toney, Alabama. She passed from this life on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at Restore Rehab Pavillion. She was happily married to her husband, Thomas C. Powers for sixty-three years. The two of them owned Powers Grocery at “Coffee Pot” on Highway 251 for almost forty years, a store in the Copeland area and a cafe in the Pisgah area for a few years as well. She loved the store, was always a hard worker and was a very smart business woman.
Jean was a member of First Baptist Church in Ardmore, Alabama, a devoted Christian, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She believed in the power of prayer and prayed fervently for her family.
Service will be 3:00 P.M., Friday, July 30, 2021 at McConnell Funeral Home in Athens
with Brother Alan Hughes conducting the service. Visitation will be from 1:00-3:00 P.M. Burial will follow service at Roselawn Cemetery in Athens.
She was preceded in death by her dear husband and beloved son Donald (Donnie) Eugene Powers, her parents, two brothers Edward Zirbel and Howard Zirbel.
She is survived by her daughter Carol Gwen Wales, son-in-law, Terry Wales, of Athens, daughter-in-law, Felica Golden Powers, of Ardmore, grandchildren, Kerri (Reece) Langley of Alexandria, Virginia, Donna (Bo) Bryant of Elkmont, Donnie Jr. (Sarah) Powers of Elkmont, Bethany (John) Schumacher of Athens, great grandchildren, Gracie Bryant, Mallory Beddingfield, Merri Ellis Powers, Samuel Langley, Katie Schumacher, Ruthie Schumacher and Maylei Meals, sisters Elizabeth (Alfred) McCown and Annie Ruth Dorning. Sister in law, Annette Zirbel, Brother in law, R.C. (Nell) Powers and a host of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Stanley Zirbel, Freddie Zirbel, Marion Powers, Darren Johnson, Bo Bryant, Donnie Powers Jr., Reece Langley, John Schumacher and Samuel Langley.
Honorary Pallbearers will be James Shannon, Eddie Shannon, Azie Magnusson and Mike Thomason.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18