Powell Barnett was born in Marion, November 21, 1892, the son of the late Nelson and Ada Gray Barnett. Powell was a well-known Marion citizen and church and community worker.
In the 1900 federal census, he was 8 years old and living with his parents and two brothers, Howard Powell, 6 and William Powell aged 4. The house number was 203 South but the street name was undetectable on the census. Due to segregation of the times, the street would have been narrowed down to one of the streets in Ghent’s Addition which would be Monroe, Madison, Holland or Liberty. His father was working as a day laborer.
By 1907, the family had relocated to 500 S. Monroe and Powell was listed as a student in his parent’s home.
The family was found in the same location in the 1910 census. Powell, now aged 17, was living with his parents there. The family owned the home with a mortgage. The children present in addition to Powell were Howard 15, William M. 13, Marie E. 10 and Edward 9. The father Nelson was listed as working odd jobs.
In June of 1917, when Powell registered for the WWI draft he was described as medium height, slender build, black eyes, black hair, single and 24 years old, living at 500 S. Monroe St. He was a porter for Ed Jeter who ran Jeter’s Dry Goods at 602-604 Public Square.
Powell enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 2, 1918 and was released on December 16, 1918.
Around the year 1919, Powell married a local female by the name of Christine Thompson and they started out renting a home at 307 S. Monroe Street. This was where the 1920 census located the couple and Powell had become a porter at the U.S. Post Office on W. Main Street.
By 1922, the couple had purchased a home at 1005 S. Madison Street and in directory listings throughout the 1920’s Powell was listed as a fireman at the Post Office.
In the 1930 census, Powell and Christine were still living in the same location and Powell was still listed as a porter at the post office, but Christine was now occupied at the post office as a charwoman (cleaning lady). Christine’s 15 year old sister Gertrude Thompson was living with them.
By the 1940 census, their status had not changed except that Christine was no longer working. They own their home and value it at $1,000. Powell was now listed as a postal employee.
Somewhere between the 1940 census and 1953, I lost track of Christine. I have not found a death record, so I don’t know if they divorced or she died, but Powell married Jessie Haskin Pool in Colp on October 5, 1953.
Powell retired on November 30, 1962 after 40 years of service to the U.S. Post Office.
He received the Marion Chamber of Commerce, “Citizen of the Year” award on January 16, 1973. He was nominated for the award by the Rev. Wally Curlee, pastor of the Second Baptist Church. Rev. Curlee, who worked with Mr. Barnett during the construction of Paul’s Chapel, said, “Never have I met a man with a more cooperative spirit He is a concerned man for his community and serves well his fellow-man.”
He was Sunday school superintendent of Paul’s Chapel Baptist Church for over 50 years and served as deacon, treasurer and chairman of the building committee of the church.
He was also a teacher of a teenage boys Sunday school class, the Christian Bible Class and Pastor’s aid.
He was president of the Mt. Olive District Sunday School and Baptist Training Union, trustee of the Mt Olive District Campsite building and business manager.
Barnett was chairman of the Gent’s Addition beautification program. He had also served as chairman of UNICEF, Multiple Sclerosis and Cancer drives. He had assisted both black and white senior citizens.
He was a member of Archive Lodge No 67, Marion; and was a World War I veteran of the U.S. Army.
Mr. Barnett died Saturday, November 10, 1973, at 10:35 a.m. in Marion Memorial Hospital at the age of 80. Funeral services were held today at 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s Chapel Baptist Church. Interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery.
The Rev. Raymond Davis, pastor of Paul’s Chapel officiated at the services. Wilson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
He was survived by his wife, one sister, Mrs. Roosevelt (Marie) Williams of Marion; one aunt, Mrs. Howard (Ruth) Mockabee of Detroit; and an uncle, Nathan Blackburn of Detroit, Mich., and several nieces and nephews.
(Data and photo from the Marion Daily Republican Obituary dated November 11, 1973; Federal Census Records; Marion City Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on July 26, 2013)