Laurene Parrish Powell

Laurene Parrish Powell passed away peacefully at the age of 102 on January 3, 2016, culminating a life lived with love, dignity, and generosity.  Born in Parrish, Florida in 1913 to Jonah and May (Lowry) Parrish, Mrs. Powell was the great-granddaughter of Crawford Parrish, who founded the community of her birth in the late 1860s.

A lifelong resident of Manatee County, Mrs. Powell was an honor student of Palmetto High School and a Cum Laude graduate of Florida Southern College. She was married to A. B. “Archie” Powell for 69 years, until his passing in 2005. Eventually moving to a Bradenton retirement community, Laurene and Archie previously resided on 59th Street West for more than 50 years.

A champion for children’s education, Mrs. Powell taught in the Manatee Public School District for over 40 years, working for more than half of her career with special needs students at Ellenton and Palmetto Elementary school locations.  Without fanfare or identification, she contributed thousands of dollars to local school children during and after her tenure.  A longtime member of the Entre Nous Club, Mrs. Powell was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church of Bradenton, and lifetime member or Manatee County retired Teachers Association.

In addition to her loving husband, Mrs. Powell was predeceased by her brother Ralph Parrish and sister Thelma (Parrish) Rochon.  She is survived by her son, Dr. Ralph Powell, Esq. of Langhorne, Pennsylvania; her sister Jessie (Parrish) Morland of DeLand, Florida; two grandchildren, Katherine Lynn (Powell) Giallanza of Davidson, North Carolina and Ralph (Bill) Powell of Loveland, Ohio; and three great grandchildren: Annalyse Powell and William (Will) Powell also of Loveland, Ohio and Liam Giallanza of Davidson, North Carolina.

There will be no visitation. Graveside services will be held at the Parrish Cemetery in Parrish, Florida on January 23, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.   In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Florida Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr., Lakeland, FL 33801, Parrish Cemetery, PO Box 308, Parrish, FL 34219 or the Salvation Army of Bradenton, 1204 14th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34205.

Condolences for the family may be made online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.