Nell Croft Powell

Published 4:17 pm Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Mrs. Nell Croft Powell, 91, of Andalusia, passed away Monday, April 10, 2023, at Andalusia Manor.

Funeral services were Wednesday, April 12, 11 a.m., from Foreman Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Frankie McVay and Brother Donald Phillips officiating the service. The interment followed in Macedonia Cemetery in Rose Hill. Visitation began Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Foreman Funeral Home.

Nell Croft Powell was born on Oct. 23, 1931, to Charles Bruner and Mamie Croft. She grew up a farmer’s daughter in the small community of Eoda, Alabama, at Sasser’s Crossroads with four siblings: Eldred, Mignon, Margaret, and Haniel. They learned to farm, love God, love each other, and love all those around them. On April 5, 1952, Nell married Rex Arnold Powell, and for over 60 years, they lived on Third Street, where they reared two children: Reggy (Cynthia) Powell and Lisa (Frankie) McVay.

Lovingly called “Granny” for the last 42 years of her life, Nell dedicated it to loving seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren: Andrea Powell (Josh) Walker, Haley Powell (Brian) Capps, Laci Grissett (Chad) Day, David (Haleigh) McVay, Michael McVay, Corey McVay, Melissa Johnson (Adam) Newsome, and Brian (Jeanine) Johnson-all of whom have survived her. She was a Granny who taught forgiveness and compassion through the love of Christ. She guided them all through the struggles, sadness, grief, and pain that life brings us all. And more than that, she shared their triumphs with them as if they were her own. She was their biggest fan.

Granny Nell was a rock. Life was disappointing and hard at times, but without fail, she loved. She wasn’t judgmental and simply loved and prayed. Sickness, death, divorce, separation, and anger-she loved and prayed. She was a voice of reason and a shoulder to cry on when the pain was too great to bear. Most importantly, no matter the circumstances, she taught them to love and forgive. She did not like for anger or grudges to keep anyone from their God-given purpose.

Nell Powell was a shining light to all she knew and always greeted with a smile and most likely a hug. She was best known for her cooking, baking, her flower arrangements, and selflessly assisting customers at Rex Powell Insurance Agency for 51 years. She loved spending hours in the kitchen with her daughter, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters and taught them how a “real Southern woman” should cook. If you were lucky enough to get to have a slice of her homemade pound cake, you learned what Heaven tastes like. She had a servant’s heart. There was rarely a time when she was not taking care of someone she loved-her husband, children, grandchildren, parents, friends, and her church family. She was a prayer warrior. She cooked meals, weeded flower beds, made hospital visits, nursing home visits, washed dishes, bathed, ran errands, dropped off grandkids, babysat, ironed clothes-you name it, she helped with it. For some of them, she was their guardian angel.

Nell and Rex both loved music especially hymns and gospel music. If you were at Paw Paw and Granny’s house, chances were someone was humming or singing (with or without music), and there was rarely an objection to turning on the tape deck or the turntable to listen to The Gaither’s, Johnny Cash, Ray Steven, Patsy Cline, or “A Chipmunks’ Christmas” in the front living room. There may have even been a few little feet sliding across those hardwood floors in Granny’s knee-highs. We could fill a book with all the fun we had at Paw Paw and Granny’s house.

The joy and happiness Nell brought to her family and extended loved ones will be missed the most and will never be forgotten. She is with her Father now with a whole body and a whole mind, and I’m sure she’s singing “Old Rugged Cross” for Paw Paw and the angels. The family extends heartfelt thanks for the gracious service from Andalusia Manor. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to your favorite charity.

Pallbearers serving the Powell family were Greg White, Lowe Dillard, Tim Godwin, Jeff Wallace, John Clark II, and Barry Bonds.

Those wishing to sign the online registry may do so at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.