Arthedella Vivian Powell's Obituary
Arthedella Vivian Powell, also affectionately known as Grandma, Vivian, Dee, Cookie and Granny, was the eldest of 2 children born to Rufus and Fannie Griffith on August 10, 1924 in Natchez, Mississippi and departed this life peacefully on August 14, 2007. She was educated in Natchez and later finished school in St. Louis, Missouri where her parents relocated. Arthedella married her first husband Fredrick D. Barnes, who was enlisted in the U.S. Army, and soon traveled with him on a tour to Germany. They then settled and made Tacoma, Washington their home in 1948. Her first husband passed away in 1956.Arthedella married her second husband, Charles Everett Powell, in December of 1957. During her life she worked at Madigan Army Hospital, Sears-Roebuck and Co. in their downtown Tacoma location and later for the Tacoma Public School District for 20 years at Jason Lee Jr. High School and as the Cook Manager at Stadium High School and Gault Jr. High School. After her retirement in 1985, she was a proud crosswalk guard at Delong Elementary School and volunteered as a poll worker for the Pierce County Election Board. She loved parliamentary procedure and was a member of the Evergreen Research Unit of The Washington State Association of Parliamentarians.Arthedella joined Bethlehem Baptist Church in 1954 and quickly became active in church service. She was the first Chairman of the Board of Finance, served several terms on the Trustee Board and worked on the church pictorial directory. She was the first official Church Hostess and Announcement clerk. She enjoyed making people feel welcome at her church.Her greatest love was being a member of the Senior Usher Board. As an usher at Bethlehem, she held several positions including counselor for the junior ushers and President. She was also an active part of the United Christian Church Ushers with whom she held the office of President for 8 years. Arthedella enjoyed the fellowship of attending usher programs all across the State of Washington. She later became the President of the Western Region, an affiliation of the National United Church Ushers Association of America, Inc. She traveled across the country ever since attending her first National Convention in 1965 at the Second Baptist Church in San Francisco, California. Being an usher was the joy of her life.But most of all, Arthedella was a devoted member of her church, dedicated to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and loyal to her friends and neighbors.Arthedella was preceded in death by her first husband Fredrick D. Barnes Sr., second husband Charles E. Powell, son Fredrick D. Barnes Jr., her brother Willie Reed and her parents.Arthedella leaves behind a legacy of family who will greatly miss her. She is survived by two sons, Michael W. Powell (Denise), and Anthony E. Powell both of Tacoma, grandsons Duane Barnes, Bernard Barnes, Rolando Berring, Ian Christopher Michael Powell and Zachary David Michael Powell, all of Tacoma, great-grandchildren Latonya Sharpley, Rashaad Sharpley, Jessica Sharpley, Tierra Barnes, Isaiah Barnes, Romece Barnes, Mechella Barnes and Jemiraa Barnes, and 6 great-great grandchildren.She also leaves behind devoted friends Margaret Condry, Emma Jane Leach, Mr. John Wells and family, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Foy and family, Clara Pearl Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Warren and family, Bobbie Patterson, and Rosetta Barnes and family.The family would like to thank Franciscan Hospice staff for their care. We would also like to thank University Place Care Center and Arthedella,'s personal care providers who over the years gave her exceptional love and care; Shelia Altheimer-Phillips, Linda Henderson and Delores Gains.Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 18, 2007 at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Tacoma at 12 pm. Committal services will be held at Mountain View Memorial Park.
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