The Rev. Mr. Halley Cleveland “Tom” Powell, 79, of Hamlet, SC, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, September 30, 2011.
Tom was born October 18, 1931 in Williamsburg County, SC, a son of the late Willie Alexander and Myrle Thomas Powell. He had served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. He was a lifelong member of the Pentecostal Holiness Church having served as a missionary in Mexico for several years and was a minister, serving at Pentecostal Holiness Churches in Laurel Hill, NC, Conway and Lake City, S.C.. He was a member of First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Rockingham and had attended Holmes Bible College. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Ruth Robinson Powell of the home; son, Steve Powell of Hamlet; daughters, Rachel Powell of Hamlet and Betty Pomeroy and husband Al of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Stefanie, Daphne and Tiffany Youngblood, Lisa Buckner, Whitney Degnan, Alexander, Emilie and Conner Powell; great grandchildren, McKenzie and Mason Youngblood, Amber and Anthony Buckner. Also surviving are brothers, W.A. Powell of Andrews, SC, Thomas Powell of Myrtle Beach, SC; sisters, Kathleen Carter of Spartanburg, SC, Lucy Herring of Ashe, NC and Peggy Wheeler-Cribb of Pawley’s Island, SC.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p. m. Monday at First Pentecostal Holiness Church with Rev. Harris Jordan and Rev. Douglas Amos officiating. Interment will follow in the Clark Cemetery with Bishop Greg Amos officiating.
The family will see friends from 3:00 – 5:00 pm Sunday at Carter Funeral Home in Rockingham and at other times at the home.
Memorials may be made to the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, World Missions Ministry, P.O. Box 12609, Oklahoma City, OK 73157.
Judith Pérez has added the following information about Brother Powell:
"In preparation for ministry in México, Tom and Ruth Powell, along with their daughters Betty and Rachel and their young son, Steven, moved to McAllen, Texas, in 1970, to enroll in language school. On week ends they visited and ministered in border towns in northern México. In January of 1971 they moved to Monterrey to teach at Emmanuel Bible School, at which time Tom also was a great help to the development of the campus. Their ministry also was helpful in the local churches of Monterrey.
"In 1972, the Northeast México Conference commissioned Brother Powell to establish a P.H. work in the city of Puebla: a real challenge because it was and still is a very difficult area for Evangelicals. They worked diligently in this city of 365 Catholic temples, and established a church , “Emmanuel," which is a thriving work today. They were assigned a young graduate of Emmanuel Bible School who worked alongside them for three years. That young man, Rev. Humberto Solís, was mentored by them in evangelism and pastoral care and today is a successful pastor and Director at Emmanuel.
"In 1980 they re-located in Mission, Texas, to help as teachers and administrators of Berea Bible Institute. Their love for the Northeast Mexico Conference continued as they supported the work with their prayers, finances, and visits.
"Personally, Tom and Ruth Powell have greatly influenced my life and I gleaned many wonderful lessons from their example. Our love and sympathy to the family, today, and “hasta luego” to a great man of God.
Judith Pérez"
[Editor's Comment: I am grateful to Hugh and Lois Hoyle as well as Judith Pérez for this information. Hugh and Lois, also, sent me the news about the home going of Aubrey Pate. It is because of people like these who feed me the news that I can publish fast breaking news stories that you may never get. I need all the help I can get. Thank you my dear friends.]
Posted on
Mon, October 3, 2011
by Hugh Morgan