Graveside service for Mr. James Doyle Powell will be 4 p.m. Friday, October 16, 2020,
at Riverwood Memorial Park.
Mr. Powell, 87, of Brookhaven, passed from this life October 14, 2020. He was born in White Bluff,
Mississippi, January 29, 1933, to James Clad Powell and Neva Marie Price Powell Hendricks.
He served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War. Mr. Powell was the
owner of R. B. Wall Oil Company where, over the years, he provided “first job” opportunities
for hundreds of young men, and he was a member of Central Baptist Church. He was a member
of various clubs including VFW Post 2618, American Legion Post 79, Wahabi Shriners, Grand Encampment
of Knights Templar, Master Mason Grand Lodge of Mississippi, John A. Galbreath Lodge 334, and
a founding member of Brookhaven Academy, serving on the first Board of Directors. He was an avid hunter
and fisherman and owned bird dogs his entire life up to just two years ago. He enjoyed collecting guns and
attending sporting events, especially those involving his children and grandchildren. He took care of a lifetime
stable of dogs…“Everyone should be so lucky to be Doyle Powell’s dog”, was an often used refrain around the
Powell house and business. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517,
Topeka, KS, 66675, www.woundedwarriorproject.org or National WWII Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana,
where he was on the Honor Roll of Charter Members. Please go to www.nationalww2museum.org, follow
the Tribute link for James Doyle Powell to make donations.
He is preceded in death by his parents; grandmother, Lillie Irene Dunnaway; daughter, Donna Lynn Powell Smith;
and brother-in-law, Howard Earl Rogers.
Those left to cherish his memory are, his wife, of over 65 years of marriage, Elizabeth Ann Powell; son,
Kenneth Wayne Powell and wife, Sherry, of Brookhaven, MS; daughters, Sharon Ann Powell, of Pensacola, FL,
Tina Powell McGhee and husband, Jim, of Pensacola, FL; brothers, Dale Powell and wife Betty, Billy Wayne Powell
and wife Cici, Richard Powell; sister, Peggy Rowell and husband, Kenny; six grandchildren, Joy Elizabeth Powell,
Jamison Powell, James McGhee, Robert McGhee, Bridgette Wheatley, Jessica Hyde; six great grandchildren,
Anna Wheatley, Spencer Wheatley, Luke Hyde, Olivia Hyde, Charley White, and Caroline Hyde. He is also
survived by a special family members, Mary Lee Brister and Randy Wallace and a host of special cousins,
nieces, nephews, and other loving family members and friends.
Mr. Powell’s family extends special appreciation to the caretakers who provided gracious assistance to our
father including Renea Dawson, Becki Berry and Rebecca Cameron. We also would like to thank the wonderful
medical staff in various Brookhaven offices, who did so much in caring for our father.