Master Sergeant (Retired) Jimmy Powell, age 78 of Baxley died Thursday night, August 2, 2012 at Community Hospice in Vidalia following a brief illness. 

Mr. Powell was born in Oak Park, GA to the late Edgerton McCray Powell and Verdie Williamson Powell.  Jimmy proudly served his country as a member of the United States Marine Corp for 21 years and served two tours in Vietnam.  Jimmy was a member of the Memorial Free Will Baptist Church.  He also worked for Sea Pines Golf Course in Hilton Head, S.C, and the City of Swainsboro as a building inspector for eight years.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Powell is preceded in death by his first wife of 32 years, Johnnie Ree Powell; two brothers, A.L. Powell and Ronnie Powell and a sister, Peggy Dease.  He is survived by his wife, Wanda K. Powell of Baxley; a daughter, Petina Parlier of Charlotte, NC; a son, James Alan Powell of Dudley, GA; a step-son, Jeff C. Smoak of Williamsburg, KY; a sister, Sandra Jay Holt of Oak Park; two brothers, Eddie Mack Powell of Oak Park and Bobby Conner of Slidell, LA; three granddaughters, Jennifer Garrett and Devin Knowelton of North Carolina and Pasley Powell of Dudley; five grandsons, Joey Harvey of Jesup, AL. and Jesse Powell of Oak Park, James Alan Powell, Jr. of San Antonio TX and Grayson Powell of Dudley; one step-grandson, Cameron Smoak of Williamsburg, KY also survives.

Funeral Services for Master Sergeant (Retired) Jimmy Powell will be held at 3pm Sunday, August 5, 2012 in the Ronnie L. Stewart Funeral Service Chapel with Reverend Amos McMillan and Reverend Virgil Carter officiating.  Burial, with full military honors, will follow in the New Hope Methodist Church cemetery in Emanuel County.  The family will receive friends from 1 pm until service time on Sunday at the Funeral Home.

Ronnie L. Stewart Funeral Service of Vidalia is in charge of the arrangements.