Mary Nell Powell

Mary Nell McDonnieal Powell, 91, peacefully passed away October 15, 2013, in Jackson, Tennessee. Born February 1, 1922, in Mize, Mississippi, to Sylvester Harris and Eula Cynthia Glisson McDonnieal, Mary Nell grew up in Summerland, Mississippi. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, she was one of few women of her time to earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. During World War II, her education and skills took Mary Nell to work as a chemist in DuPont's smokeless powder plant in Sylacauga, Alabama. When the War ended, she returned to Mississippi to teach at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville. As an active member of First Baptist Church there, she met Mayor and Mrs. J.M. Powell, who introduced her to their son, J.M. Powell, Jr., when he came home from the War. After just a four month courtship, J.M. and Mary Nell were married and happily shared the next 50 years of their lives. When they moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, not long after marrying, Mary Nell went to work again as a chemist, for Esso. J.M.'s work took Mary Nell and their growing family from Baton Rouge, to New Orleans, and on to Louisville, Kentucky, before bringing them back to Baton Rouge, where they would live for the rest of their lives. Mary Nell returned to work in 1963 when she and J.M became the owners of The Baton Rouge Guest House on Florida Boulevard. Working together, they developed The Guest House into one of the first modern nursing homes in Louisiana. Their priority was to provide personalized care to residents through strong relationships with their families and the community. Her sensitivity and genuine concern for each member of The Guest House community endeared her to staff, residents, and their families. Over the years Mary Nell assumed more leadership responsibilities at The Guest House and in related professional organizations. When The Guest House became part of the Baton Rouge General, she was Administrator of the nursing home and a Fellow in the American College of Nursing Home Administrators (ACHCA). After the transition to the Baton Rouge General System, Mary Nell was named founding Administrator of their Geriatric Institute. Mary Nell and J.M. loved to travel. Together they explored countries around the world, always interested in learning about the history and culture of the people and places they visited. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, they always sought places to worship along the way and found opportunities to visit and encourage missionaries serving in those countries. Mary Nell continued to travel after J.M.'s death, facilitating English conversation classes in China, providing support for a medical-dental team in Honduras, and journeying from the Galápagos Islands to Machu Picchu to the depths of Copper Canyon. Faith informed every aspect of Mary Nell's life and church was a focal point of her calendar. She looked forward to Round Table book discussions, missions organization meetings, and worship services. Mary Nell loved to teach, leading Bible studies on Sunday mornings at First Baptist Church and during the week for outreach programs. Throughout her life she volunteered to serve often in ministry opportunities at church and in the broader community. Mary Nell was faithful in her devotion to family, her love and support of J.M. were unfailing, and she joyfully nurtured their children through every stage of their lives. Mary Nell was a loving daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother. In quiet and unassuming ways she deeply touched the lives of many, no matter what their walk of life. Her friends and family will greatly miss her soft-spoken wisdom and gentle influence. Mary Nell was preceded in death by her parents, Sylvester and Eula McDonnieal; her husband, J.M. (Jim) Powell; and two grandsons, Thomas Alan Jayne and Donald Lewis Jayne. Mary Nell is survived by her four children, Cynthia Powell (Keith) Jayne of Jackson, Tennessee, John Randall (Nancy) Powell of Baton Rouge, Karen Powell (Tom) Larrick of Brunswick, Georgia, and Patricia Powell (Owen) Baynham of Gilbert, Arizona; her three siblings, Dr. S. H. (Ann) McDonnieal of Jackson, Mississippi, Willodean McDonnieal Hastings of Laurel, Mississippi, and Betty Carolyn McDonnieal Kittrell of Daphne, Alabama; four grandchildren, Alicia Jayne (Shelby) Lewis of Baton Rouge, Raymond Matthew Jayne of Jackson, Tennessee, Thomas Christian Larrick of Northglenn, Colorado, and James Marquand Larrick of Colonial Heights, Virginia; and eight great-grandchildren, Kayla Jayne Taylor of Jackson, Tennessee, Noel Ray Jayne of Jackson, Tennessee, Amanda Jayne (Jorge) Amezcua of Jackson, Tennessee, Matthew Jayne of Jackson, Tennessee, and Abigail Jayne of Jackson, Tennessee, Simon Andrew Lewis of Baton Rouge, Tabitha Marie Lewis of Baton Rouge, and Ian David Lewis of Baton Rouge; and five nieces and nephews, Ann (Sunny) McDonnieal (David) Fowler of New York, New York, Jan McDonnieal (Daron) Wilson of Jackson, Mississippi, John Langford (Cynthia) Kittrell of Conroe, Texas, Carol Kittrell (Jerry) Broughton of Fairhope, Alabama, and Lynn Kittrell (Trip) Pittman of Fairhope, Alabama. Visitation will be Monday October 21, 2013 at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Visitation continues Tuesday October 22 ,2013 at First Baptist Church 529 Convention St. Baton Rouge from 10:00 till service time at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park. Mary Nell gave support throughout her life to First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge and truly loved them as family. She and J.M. travelled extensively and were strong advocates for education and mentoring of young people who were led to venture abroad, which is the basis for their scholarship fund at Union University. Mary Nell recognized the importance of religious liberties and strongly supported organizations such as the Baptist Joint Committee for their national leadership on critical church-state issues. Hospice provided compassionate support that eased her pain and allowed her to spend her final days peacefully at home. Mary Nell and her family would be honored if you would like to give a gift to any of these organizations in her name. First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, 529 Convention St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802; Union University J.M. and Mary Nell Powell Scholarship Fund, 1050 Union University Dr., Jackson, TN 38305; Baptist Joint Committee, 200 Maryland Ave. N.E. , Washington, DC 20002; Your local Hospice organization. Online condolences may be placed at www.greenoaksfunerals.com.