Tombstone Tuesday - Clay & Powell

Headstone images by Mark Krugman

2008

The joint stone inscriptions for Jesse H. Powell & his wife, Nancy "Nannie" Clay Powell. 

Jesse married Nancy Clay, daughter of Edmund B. Clay & Sarah Jones in 1867 in Decatur County, Georgia.  They rest together in Bethel Baptist Cemetery, Decatur County, Georgia.

Nancy is a second cousin several generations removed.

                         BELOVED WOMAN PASSES TO BEYOND 

MRS. JESSE H. POWELL PASSED AWAY AT CYRENE, SATURDAY, JULY 10TH

In the death of Mrs. Nannie Clay Powell, Cyrene and community have lost one of their most prominent citizens. As a result of a third strike of paralysis, the end came on Saturday afternoon, July 10th, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. B. Donalson, in Cyrene. The news of her death brought a shock to the community though she had been in very poor health for more than a year.

Mrs. Powell was born and raised in Talbot county and shortly after the Civil War came to Decatur county with her two brothers, David and John Clay. In 1867 she was married to Mr. Jesse H. Powell, and together they established a home known by many for its royal hospitality and prominence in the upholding of the section and community. For forty years this Christian couple lived and taught by precept and example, the blessed truths of righteousness. No begging hand ever left this home empty nor was a deaf ear ever turned to a needy call. Two citizens have invested their lives in a most genuinely useful and helpful way than did this Godly couple. Since childhood, she had been an active and consistent member of the Baptist church. Nothing brought to her more pleasure than serving in some capacity for the progress and maintenance of her church.

She leaves two sons, W. G. Powell, of Cyrene and J. T. Powell, of Brinson and eight daughters, Mrs. E. S. Perry, of Iron City; Mrs. E. Rich, Mrs. A. J. Rich, Mrs. J. B. L. Barber, of Bainbridge; Mrs. P. D. Rich, of Colquitt; Mrs. W. C. Sims, of Brinson; Mrs. J. B. Donalson, of Cyrene; Mrs. Walter Love, of Jacksonville, Fla.; more than thirty grandchildren and great-grandchildren loudly lament the loss of this admirable woman.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at Bethel church, conducted by her pastor, Rev. H. H. Shell, of Bainbridge. By six of her stalwart grandsons, her body was borne to the grave and there deposited by the side of her husband, who preceeded her several years.

 *The Post-Search Light*, Bainbridge, Georgia, on microfilm (Bainbridge, Georgia: Gilbert H. Gragg Library), obituary for Nannie Clay Powell, vol. 6 no. 16, Thursday, 22 July 1920, page 1.