Services for Frank Bennett Powers will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, July 17, at 10 am. Visitation will be at 9 am in the church Parlor. Frank will be buried in Glenwild Cemetery in Utica. Boone Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Frank was born November 2, 1940, in Utica, MS, to Bernard and Marie Vaughan Powers. He grew up in Utica, where he enjoyed small-town life, making many lifelong friendships.
Frank graduated from Hinds Junior College and then received a business degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.
His early jobs were as an insurance adjuster, first in Chicago, then moving to Atlanta. The “big city” did not appeal to this small-town boy so he moved back to Mississippi, first to Greenwood, then to Greenville.
After moving to the Delta, Frank sold accounting machines for Burroughs, Inc., managed Burdine and Ross Concrete Products, then began a job he truly loved, selling and installing school computer systems.
In March 1970, Frank married Trude Chamberlain and they had 3 daughters, Lissa, Kate and Leigh.
Frank and Trude were longtime members of the First Presbyterian Church, where Frank served as a deacon, elder and adult Sunday school teacher. Some of his favorite memories were of taking church youth to Montreat in the summer. Frank also led an early morning men’s Bible class. He looked forward to the research required for this class and he loved the camaraderie shared by these men.
When it became difficult for Frank to walk, his favorite times were sitting on the porch, watching the birds, squirrels and dogs.
Frank was predeceased by his younger sister, Lynn, and is survived by his wife, Trude Chamberlain Powers of Greenville, daughters Melissa Wilkerson of Greenville, Dr. Katherine Vaughan Powers and Leigh Chamberlain Powers of Memphis, grandchildren Jacob Ryan Wilkerson of Round Rock, Texas, and Sara-Lamar Wilkerson of Memphis.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Friends of Music, First Presbyterian Church, 1 John Calvin Circle, Greenville, MS, 38701 or Utica Christian Church, 316 E. Main St., Utica, MS, 39175.
