Jerry L. Powell was born March 19, 1944 in Carson, Mississippi, Jefferson Davis County, to the late Willie Lee Fairley and Willis Powell. On October 31, 2015, surrounded by his loving family at Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula, MS, God chose to give him a place of rest.
Jerry joined church at an early age. He attended school in Jefferson Davis County.

After graduating from Carver High School, he decided to move to coastal Mississippi residing in Pascagoula. After working various jobs, he was hired at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, MS. He was employed forty-one years with the shipyard in warehousing until his retirement in 2004. Jerry married Janice Johnson, July 5, 1978. Through this loving relationship, he continued to love unconditionally, pray for, and provide guidance to the ever-changing lives of his children; Melissa, Terry, and Roshonda.
Jerry was preceded in death by his father; Willis Powell, mother, Willie Lee PowellTate, stepfather, Emmanuel Tate, and sister, Debra Ann Daniels.

Jerry is remembered and loved by his wife Janice, daughters, Melissa (David) Wilson of Columbia, MS and Roshonda (Roosevelt) Powell-Anderson of Ocean Springs, MS; son, Terry (Kelly) Powell of Tacoma, WA; brother, Herman (Ruby Jewel) Powell of Moss Point, MS; seven sisters, Maxine (Roosevelt) Price, Rose (pete) Bourne, and Ira Dean Tate all of Jefferson Dav;’s County; Edna Fay (Lee Gusta) Arnold, and Bertha (Michael) Brown of Jackson, MS; Carol Ann Powell of Collirts, MS; Mandolyn (Gerald) Jones of Detroit, Michigan; father-in-law, James Johnson, Jr. of Port Gibson, MS; sisters-in-law, Marian Wilson and Deborah (Benjamin) Locke of Moss Point, MS; brothers-in-law, James Daniels of Jackson, MS, James (Lillie) Johnson of Oak Park, Michigan, Jerry (Joyce) Johnson, Jr. of Gautier, MS; six grandchildren, Terrance, Steffen, Socrates, Melody, Destiny, and Tyrique; one great grandchild, Zion; special niece and nephew, Lakisha and Letrelle; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.