Delores C. Powell

On the morning of Tuesday, December 26, 2017 God in a still small voice called home Delores Cost ello Bates Powell to rest in the arms of Jesus. Delores was born on July 23, 1930 in Baltimore to the late Clarence and Mary (Banks) Bates. Delores was educated in the Baltimore City Public Schools and attended Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Her knowledge and breath of education allowed her to speak, debate, and discuss almost any subject. She loved to talk about and discuss science, archaeology, and the mysteries of the Bible. She was united in matrimony on May 29, 1948 to Thomas Powell who preceded her in death in 2005. Her children Antionette, the late Adrienne, Valerie, Yvonne, Arthur, Stephanie, and Mary admired, adored, and honored her all the days of her life. She knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was a devout member of the Historic St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. She served her church as a member of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Delores previously worked for the Community Action Agency as a community activist, a VISTA Volunteer, and on the USS Comfort Ship. She retired from Beacon Press where she worked as a printer and proof reader. After retirement she served as a class grandmother at the Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School alongside her oldest daughter, Antionette Myles. Affectionately called “Mama” by all, she was an encouragement to her family, friends, church, and community. She believed in the power of the community to transform lives. Mama instilled a love of learning and education within her family. She made sure that her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren understood the legacy of excellence that she herself learned from her parents. She was known as a “sharp” dresser. Joy exudes from her pictures! As we celebrate her life today, we thank God for her eighty-seven years of life and love. It is our hope that the legacy that she leaves of faith, love, and family will continue to grow and overflow into all of our endeavors. Her family is comforted by the fact that she is in heaven watching and loving us still! She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Powell, her sisters Dorothy Jones, Ellen Moss, Mary Bates, her grandson Ray Daniel Johnson, her great grandson Adrian Lee and her beloved daughter Adrienne Powell. She leaves to cherish her memory: her children Antionette Myles (Jerry), Valerie Powell, Yvonne Walker, Thomas Powell, Stephanie Powell, and Mary Keene. Her grandchildren, Arnetta Powell-Wade, Leroy Bryant, Valvia Saunders, Dionne Walker, Natalie Johnson, Reginald McTeer, Bruce Harrington, and Nikkia Powell. Her great grandchildren Tyrone Raines, James Saunders, Anita Wade, Demetrius Saunders, Dominique Saunders, Kamrien Bryant, Nicole Bryant, Tony Bryant, Brandon Bryant, Shakyra Smith, Ja’Liyah Smith, Nicholas Smith, Charles Smith, Kyndel Smith, Corey Smith. Her siblings Clarence “Bantu” Bates (Debbie), Leroy Bates (Mary) and Shirley Kimbrough. In addition she leaves a large extended family of great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Tributes

Delores C. Powell

July 26, 1930 - December 26, 2017