Willie Powell

A dedicated Christian, Sister, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, GreatGrandmother, Aunt and Friend A Child of GodBlessed are the dead who die in the Lord, says the Spirit. They will rest from their labors, and their deeds follow them. Rev. 14:13 Willie Mae Waites Powell, of Austin, Texas, daughter of Lovie and Lucille Jackson Waites, departed her earthly life on Thursday, January 30, 2014. She passed away peacefully at home. She was born on Saturday, October 22, 1921 in Cedar Creek, Texas Bastrop County. She was the eldest of five children. Through the guidance of loving and Christian parents, at an early age, she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Willie Mae was a longstanding and faithful member of Grant A.M.E. Worship Center in Austin, under the leadership of Reverend Adam T. Carrington. As member of Grant, she sang in the choir and served with the Womens Missionary. She attended Bastrop Public Schools and graduated from Emile High School in 1939. On September 6, 1939, Willie Mae joined Oscar W. Powell, Jr. in holy matrimony.Through the fruits of their union, two children Orvid Deloris were born. Some years later, God entrusted another child Sandra to their care. Willie Mae and Oscar shared fiftyfour blessed years of marriage until his passing on February 9, 1994. As a young woman, Willie Mae worked as a homemaker and caregiver. Caring for her family and others was only one of her many special qualities. She enjoyed cooking, sewing for herself and others, shopping, making jewelry, and reading. Naturally, due to her love of sewing, it became her profession. She was the first African American to be employed by the Singer Sewing Machine Company. This business was located on Congress Avenue in downtown Austin. Willie Mae could create some of the most beautiful and elaborate garments and handkerchiefs ever seen. She could also whip up some of the tea cakes anyone had ever tasted. Willie Mae loved spending quality time with her family and friends. Most of all, she loved Praising the Lord Mrs. Willie Mae was a beautiful, elegant, intelligent, and Godfearing woman. She always had a stern yet loving way of making sure that all was righteous and in order. Willie Mae was forever graceful, stylish, and poised. So much so, that her mother nicknamed her Mrs. Roosevelt. Her ability to make all feel welcomed and cherished will be wholeheartedly missed by any and all who were fortunate enough to love and know her. Mrs. Willie Mae is preceded in death by her husband, Oscar W. Powell, Jr., her parents, Lovie and Lucille Waites her two children, daughter Deloris Powell fondly called Sister and son Orvid Powell two sisters, Earnice Barton and Lovie Lee Powell and one brother Oliver Waites. Willie Mae leaves to celebrate and cherish her living legacy, a beloved Goddaughter and caregiver, Sandra Dukes and her children Tisha and Glenn Pool, Terron and Terrance Bryant, and Britini Miller her grandchildren Marquis, Raeven, Sierra, Tianna, Tavia, Dreshaun, Brittney, and Jennesa. Willie Mae also leaves in Gods hands her granddaughter, Jackie and Robert Burns of Austin her grandson, Orvid, II Junior of Atlanta, Georgia one great granddaughter, Christina Burns one great grandson Robert Nicholas Burns, both of San Antonio a sister, Margaret Reed of Pflugerville and Ruth Jones, sisterinlaw of Corpus Christi nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and a multitude of friends.