James Bascom "J.B." Powell

James Bascom "J.B." Powell, 89, of Main Street, Drexel, NC, died Saturday, May 6, 2006 at the Brian Center in Hickory, NC, following an extended illness. Born March 13, 1917 in Burke County, NC, he was the son of the late Owen Bascom Powell and Nannie Cooper Powell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Margaret Turner Powell; a brother, Charles Powell; and a sister, Myrtle Williams. J.B. retired from Drexel Furniture Company’s Table Rock Plant in May of 1977 after 27 years of employment. He was a former employee of the Drexel Knitting Mill and worked briefly as a building contractor. Mr. Powell was a talented clock maker. He was a charter member of Christ United Methodist Church where he was very active in all areas of church life.

J.B. is survived by his daughter, Mahala P. Cannon and husband, Wayne, of Drexel; two granddaughters, Tamara Biddix and husband, Darrell, of Hildebran, NC, and Natalie Cannon of Charlotte, NC; three great-grandchildren, Brittany, Austin, and Madison; two brothers, Thompson Powell and John H. Powell, both of Valdese, NC; and four sisters, Odessa Clark of Valdese, Anita Fowler of Connelly Springs, NC, Ermine Abee, formerly of Morganton, and Rebecca Dalmas of Valdese.

The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 9, 2006 at Christ United Methodist Church with Rev. Marion G. Moore, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Drexel Memorial Park with military graveside rites to be performed by Valdese American Legion Post #234. The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. Monday evening at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes prior to the funeral hour. At other times the family will be at the residence of the daughter, Mahala Cannon, 3529 Trinity Church Road, Valdese. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 38, Drexel, NC 28619 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, Western NC Chapter, 31 College Place, Suite D-320, Asheville, NC 28801.