Betty Powell

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Elizabeth "Betty" Powell, 85, formerly of Charleston, Mo., died at 3:15 a.m. July 3, 2002, at the Methodist Hospital in North Memphis.

Born July 9, 1916, in Columbia, daughter of the late Frank and Ora May Smith Sapp, she graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelors degree in education and a masters degree in library science. She moved to Charleston in 1945, where she taught kindergarten for a few years before becoming librarian for the Mississippi County Library. She was author of "The History of Mississippi County - Beginning through 1972," which was published in 1975. She moved to the Memphis area after retiring in 1978.

On Dec. 25, 1938, she married Rowe Powell who preceded her in death on Dec. 8, 1973.

Survivors include: one son, Ronald Rowe Powell of Dearborn, Mich.; two daughters, Judith Ann Herring of Bartlett and Betty Jane Thurman of Millington; one brother, Jack Sapp of Columbia; two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.

Three brothers also preceded her in death.

Visitation is from noon Sunday until service time at 2 p.m. at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. The Rev. Ed Hankinson, pastor of the United Methodist Church in Charleston, will officiate.

Burial will follow in the IOOF Cemetery near Charleston.

Memorial contributions may be sent to:

the Mississippi County Public Library P.O. Box 160 Charleston, Mo. 63834