Elaine Woods Powell

Funeral services for Mrs. Elaine Woods Powell, age 96, of Fayetteville, TN were conducted at 3 PM on Thursday, September 12, 2019, at Higgins Funeral Home. Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 16, 2019 at Wake Forest Town Cemetery, next to her husband, William Royall Powell, Jr.

Dorothy Elaine Woods Powell was born at home on February 22, 1923 in Smithland, TN. She was the first of seven children born to the late Thomas S. and Vespher Bostick Woods. She passed away on September 10, 2019 in Fayetteville, TN. Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, William Royall; son, William Thomas Powell; and brothers, Thomas Edward Woods and Ross Woods.
   
Elaine dedicated her life to the Lord at the age of 9 and was baptized in the Elk River at Shiloh Bridge near Smithland. She finished eighth grade at Smithland School and graduated from Flintville High School in 1941. In 1945, Elaine graduated from Maryville College with a major in French and a minor in history. Upon her marriage to William Royall Powell, Jr., she moved to Wake Forest, NC where she lived for 56 years.
   
While living in Wake Forest, she was a member of Wake Forest Baptist Church for 55 years where she served as a Deacon and 32 years as Junior Girls' Sunday School Teacher. Elaine was in the banking industry and enjoyed being part of civic organizations such as DAR, Woman's Club, Garden Club, and the Wake Forest College Birthplace Society. Following retirement, she had the pleasure of serving as docent at the North Carolina Executive Mansion and at the Raleigh Visitors' Center in Raleigh, NC.
   
In 2001, Elaine moved back to Fayetteville, TN to be close to her extended family. She was an active member of the DAR and the UDC, first in North Carolina and then in Tennessee. Even after her health declined, she still held a strong belief in patriotism for our country.
   
Survivors include her sister, Emogene Taylor and Faye Walker; brothers, Ray Woods, and Orville Woods; and numerous nieces and nephews who will hold memories of her close to their hearts.
   
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest. (919) 556-5811
www.brightfunerals.com

 

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