Carl Benjamin Powell, Jr. was born April 8, 1925, on the family farm located on the bank of the Savannah River on the outskirts of Hartwell, GA.  He was the third of six children born to Carl B. Powell, Sr. and Janie Murray Powell.  After graduating from high school in 1942, Carl worked in the banking industry in Atlanta for a year before he joined the US Navy and served honorably on the USS Key, a destroyer escort the duration of WWII.

After he was discharged at the end of the war, Carl took full advantage of the GI bill and graduated from the University of Georgia in three years.  Carl entered the business world in Atlanta, GA. Where his success allowed him to retire at an early age as comptroller and member of the board of directors of one of the largest building materials suppliers in the Southeast United states.

Carl enjoyed a long retirement enjoying managing his investments, vegetable gardening and growing a yard full of exceptional roses.  Other interests included enjoying all things related to the University of Georgia and its football team, boating and water skiing on Lake Lanier and some very nice American luxury cars.  In the early 1970's, Carl began dating Jessie Graham, the widow next door, and they married in 1974.  Jessie would not quit working before her full retirement and Carl became tired of waking early to see her off to work and then trying to find housework to entertain himself, so he embarked on a second career.

Carl found a job with the Government Services Administration so he and Jessie could carpool to and from work each day.  His success with the National Park Service division of the GSA resulted in many performance awards and advances in service grade during his ten-year tenure.

Carl's second retirement coincided with Jessie's, and they pursued extensive travel that over a 21-year time span included 49 US states and 19 international trips which included all continents except the Arctic's.

Carl and Jessie were faithful members of Virginia Highlands Baptist church.  Jessie passed away after 40 years of an extended honeymoon.

Carl passed away peacefully at Royal Oaks assisted living in Dalton on December 14, 2023. Carl is survived by his younger brother Hugh of Dalton and Hugh's daughter Valerie Brown also of Dalton, his stepdaughter Sandra Fitzgerald and husband Mike of St. Simons and his grandkids Jesse (Lorelei) and Elizabeth Fitzgerald as well as eight nieces and nephews.

A graveside memorial service celebrating a long and well lived life will be held 1:00 pm Saturday April 6, 2024, at the family plot in the Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Terry Meeks officiating.   A reception will follow at the Sardis Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

The Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell is in charge of local arrangements.