NETTIE BELLE HARDY POWELL

Mrs. Nettie Belle Hardy Powell passed away at home on January 14, 2022, at the age of 93. She was born January 10, 1929 in Holmes County, Florida at the home of her parents John Levy and Sarah (Sally) Isabell Stanley Hardy.  She was the youngest of six children and was much loved and doted on by her siblings.  She grew up on the family farm in Ponce de Leon and graduated from Ponce de Leon High School.  She was a member of Sandy Creek Baptist Church for most of her life, until she transferred membership to First Baptist Church of DeFuniak Springs in the 1990s.  It was at Sandy Creek that she first met her husband, Jake Powell.  They were married in January of 1949 and moved to DeFuniak Springs where they would work and raise their two children for the remainder of their lives. Nettie Belle was employed at Rivard Chevrolet and W.K. Jennings in downtown DeFuniak, until the birth of their children Keenan and Karen.  She worked as a homemaker for many years, raising the kids, and helping Jake at the Standard Station, which they owned.  In 1974, she took a job at the Walton County School District, where she served for 25 years in the vocational, purchasing, and finance departments.  Nettie Belle was a woman of many talents.  Aside from working in bookkeeping and finance, she kept herself busy with skills, such as sewing, cooking, and gardening.  Her yard was a source of great pleasure.  Nettie Belle’s landscaping was renowned, and visitors would often stop by just to stroll through her garden and enjoy the efforts of her hard work.  Other interests were travel, home decorating, and genealogy.  Nettie Belle was the family historian and researched genealogies before the days of digital records.  She traveled to libraries, cemeteries, and court houses all over the South to conduct her research. Her work is included in several genealogical anthologies.  She kept a clean and well decorated house.  She loved reading magazines and watching tv programs about home and garden.  She and Jake were able to restore her childhood home in the late 90s, taking it apart and putting it back together almost piece by piece.  She always enjoyed going somewhere, whether it was just a drive down the road, or a trip to visit Keenan in Hawaii, Nettie Belle was ready to get her purse and go.   Nettie Belle will be remembered for these things, as well as the generosity and care she gave to others, her strong will, and a commitment to friends and family.

In addition to her parents, Nettie Belle was preceded in death by her husband, Jake Henry Powell and her siblings, Vernice Barton (Hayes), Elbie Hardy (Myrtle), Alvie Lee Hardy (Melina), Orval Hardy (Edna Earl), and Homer Hardy (Louise).  She is survived by her children:  a son, John Keenan Powell and wife Vivian; a daughter, Karen Butts and husband Randall Bruce; four granddaughters: Katie Odom (Shane); Cari Cole (Jack); Casi Stubbs (Zack); and Kelly Powell-Goff (Michael); eleven great-grandchildren: Kyle Lovell and Kase Odom, Caslyn and Carston Cole, Elle and Brycelyn Stubbs, Jake, Koi, and Khameo Powell, and Scarlett and Aristotle Goff; as well as numerous and much-loved nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family has requested that rather than flowers, memorials be made in Nettie Belle Powell's memory to St. Jude Children's Hospital, First Baptist Church.  Florida Baptist Children's Home or to one's favorite charity.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. in Sandy Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 1125 Line Road, Ponce deLeon, Florida 32455 with Reverend Tim Burnham officiating.  Burial will follow in the Powell Family Plot.  Friends and family may go on line to view obituaries, offer condolences and sign the guest register at jerryevansfuneralhome.com