James Powell

Born on March 19, 1940, in Sunflower, MS, James was the fourth of seven children of Robert Powell and Blanche (Tall) Powell. James transitioned on April 25, 2024, at his home in Toledo. Ohio. He was the husband of Bernadine (Henry) Powell, They shared 62 years of marriage together.

A gifted athlete, James excelled in sports throughout high school and college, including baseball, basketball, track & field, and football. James graduated from Scott High School and the University of Toledo, where he forged lifelong friendships.

In his early career, was employed at Chevrolet Hydromatic plant as the first minority in a management role. His passion for fostering the growth of minority businesses led him to leave Hydromatic to develop the Toledo Council for Business. He later the became the Executive Director of EOPA (Economic Opportunity Planning Association). He served in that capacity until 2012.

James will be remembered for his kindness and generosity to his family, friends, and neighbors. He loved to entertain and was well known for his slow cooked barbecued ribs. He shared slabs of ribs with family, friends, and neighbors.

James is survived by his wife, Bernadine (Henry) Powell; his daughter, Valerie Lynn Powell; his sons, Eric James Powell (Grant Gundle), and Gregory Scott Powell (Chandra Besteda Powell); grandchildren, Jelani Powell, Destiny Powell, and Jamie Foster; five great grandchildren, Victoria Hampton, Justus Powell, Jusiah Powell, Mason Tefft, and Jayla Kuhn; his sister, Mable Glover; and his brother, TeWitt Powell. James was proceeded in death by his grandparents, James H. and Cammie Powell; his parents, Robert and Blanche Powell; sisters, Rosa Lee White, Evelyn Moore and Ella Wiliams; his brother, Dewitt Powell; and his nephew, Daryl White.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 11:00am at Third Baptist Church, 402 Pinewood Avenue, Toledo, OH 43604.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Walk The Word Scholarship Fund, 2110 Tremainsville Road, Toledo, OH 43613.

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