In the early morning of August 16th, 2022, Lester Powell Sr., aged 98, passed peacefully in his sleep. One of eight children of Tillman and Imogene Powell, he was born on January 18, 1924 in Augusta, GA.

His youth was spent between school and working in the family grocery but in 1940 he joined the Marine Corps as an original member of Augusta’s 19th BN Marine Corps Reserve Unit, he loyally served for 26 years.  His overseas service in WWII included deployment to Lisbon, Portugal, followed by service in the South Pacific including Eniwetok, Samoa, and the Marshall Islands. 

On June 20,1948 he married Nettie Taylor; they formed a devoted and formidable team who were married for over 65 years.

In 1949 he was selected for Officer Candidate School and became an officer in the food service and supply division rising to the rank of Major. Following his military retirement in 1966, he moved the family to Northern Virginia where, joining the US Department of Agriculture, he served as Deputy Director of the Federal School Lunch program during its formative years. 

At the completion of his Civil Service, he and Nettie moved to Virginia Beach, and subsequently to Jacksonville FL. In retirement he was active in the Masonic Temple and Shriners, serving as Master of the Virginia Beach Masonic Lodge, and as a Noble in the Shriners Morocco Temple in Jacksonville FL.

After Nettie’s passing in 2012, he moved to Savannah, and for the last nine years, has been an active and much beloved resident of the Savannah Square retirement community.

He was preceded in death by his sister Mary, brothers Charles, Tillman Cluese (TC), Raymond, Robert, Ralph, and Herbert, and grandson Justin.

He is survived by sons, Lester Jr (Anne), Herbert (Kathy), grandchildren Megan Murray (Ben), Michael (Stephanie Reda), great granddaughter Reese, and nieces Imogene Ford (Chuck), Janet Stanley and Linda Powell.

Devoted father, husband, and friend he is missed by all who were fortunate to know him.

 A graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, August 25, 2022 at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 2700 Deans Bridge Rd, Augusta, GA.