Versenia Ester Powell

Versenia Ester Powell, 102, of Silsbee, died Thursday, June 2, 2022.  She was born on June 14, 1919, in Silsbee, to Apolonia “Trude” Kirkendal Ester and Fred Ester.

Versenia loved to fish and spent many enjoyable hours anywhere there was water deep enough to throw in a hook.  She was a great cook of the many vegetables she helped raise in the big garden.  She always had her hair done and dressed up when she went out anywhere.  She loved her grandchildren, and this love was returned as they came back for many visits as they got older.  Every occasion and holiday were made very special when Granny Powell was present.  Versenia was a sixty-six-year member of the Pentecostal church until her death.  She will be greatly missed, but there are many special memories, good times, laughter, the receiver of many pranks played on her, and life lessons that will live on through her legacy.

Survivors include her children, Glenda Powell Cravey and her husband, Bruce and Charles Powell and his wife, Jane, all of Silsbee; and Jerry Powell and his wife, Rebecca, of Buna; grandchildren, Shani Griffin and her husband, John, of Mont Belvieu; Brian Cravey, and David Powell and his wife, Jill, all of Silsbee; Darren Powell and his wife, Amanda, of Nome; James Powell and his wife, Kara, of Silsbee; Valley Smith and her husband, Robert, of Buna; Jimmy Dale Powell, Jr. and Sharon Bienevides, both of Silsbee; and Ralph Powell of Smithville; great-grandchildren, Brayden Griffin and his wife, Kate; Brayli Whitfield and her husband, Conner; Arley-Beth Cravey; Alley-Jade Cravey; Tyler Powell and his wife, Kyndal; and Taylor Holt and her husband, Bailey; Molly Beavers; Megan Powell; Slade Allen; Braylynn Allen; Zoyie Smith; Kenner Powell; Levin Powell; Corey Sterling; and Joey Sterling and his wife, Beth; and great-great-grandchildren, Barrett Whitfield, Hallie Holt, Jacob and Becca Sterling, and Shelby Lynn and Colten Lee Sterling.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Trude and Fred Ester; stepfather, Alvin Bullitt; father of her children, Emmitt Powell; sons, Jimmy Dale Powell, Sr. and Robert Joe Powell; and grandson, Ricky Powell.

A gathering of Mrs. Powell’s family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m., with her funeral service at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, June 5, 2022, at First Pentecostal Church, 1420 North 5^th Street, Silsbee, under the direction of Broussard’s, Silsbee.  Her interment will follow at Cunningham Cemetery, Silsbee.