The Rev. J. J. Powell

Published 5:22 pm Thursday, December 26, 2013

The Rev. John James Powell, 96, of 1710 Powell Road, Mill Spring, died Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013 in St. Luke’s Hospital, Columbus, NC.
Born in Polk County, he was the son of the late Rev. Hubert L. and Margaret Hague Powell. He attended Brevard College, Lenoir Rhyne College and graduated from Duke University Divinity School. Rev. Powell was a minister for the past 76 years in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, and most recently the senior pastor in Alexander United Methodist Church in Forest City, N.C. for the past 26 years.  He was active locally in the Tryon Lions Club, currently serving as president. Rev. Powell was first married to Martha Martin Powell who died in 1981. He later married Irene Cook Powell, who died in 2007.
Surviving are his wife of four years: Anne Bennett Dodd Powell of the home; one son, Dr. James Lee Powell of Mill Spring and Marietta, Ga.; one daughter, Dr. Martha Powell (Dr. Will H. Blackwell) of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; three stepchildren, Rick Dodd (Pam), of Dacula, Ga., Dede Scott (Alan) of Morganton, N.C. and David Dodd (Barbara Bertram) of Durham, N.C.; and one sister, Sarah Edmiston of Cocoa Beach, Fla.
Also surviving are two grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be at 2-p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013 in Alexander United Methodist Church, Forest City, N.C. with Rev. John Boggs and Rev. Ned Owens officiating.
Burial will be in Lebanon United Methodist Church Cemetery, Mill Spring.
Family to receive friends Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013 from 4-5:30 p.m. in the McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon.
Memorials may be made to Alexander United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1727, Forest City, NC  28043
An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com