The Rev. Gerald Marcus Powell of Paris entered into Glory on April 30, 2022, at the age of 70. His Home Going Celebration will be held Monday May 9, 2022, at 11 am at Paris New Generation Baptist Church with Pastor Shannon McGuire officiating and Pastor Ricky Powell serving as eulogist. Interment will follow to Evergreen Cemetery under the direction of Maxey Funeral Home. 

Gerald Marcus Powell was born October 20, 1951, in Paris, TX to Carmella and Bud Powell. Gerald
attended schools in Paris before graduating Paris High School. His mother was a woman of strong faith
and Gerald accepted the call to preach at the early age of 12.

He became a Methodist minister and began pastoring his first church in Greenville, TX after attending
Texas College in Tyler, Texas. While with the Methodist Church he pastored in Berkeley California, Miami
Florida, and Birmingham Alabama. He eventually moved back to Texas and attended mortician school in
Dallas, graduating first in his class. He began his mortician career at Golden Gate funeral home in Dallas
before coming back to work at Maxey Funeral Home in Paris, TX.

After several years as a mortician, he realized he had an affinity to work with the elderly and became a
Certified Nursing Aide. He worked at various locations while as a CNA, most notably at the Honey Grove
Nursing Home and Brentwood Terrace Healthcare and Rehabilitation. While at Brentwood he eventually
began driving the bus and occasionally leading Bible Study for the residents. He also became a personal
sitter for several couples and ministered again. His last ministerial assignment was in Detroit, TX at New
Hope Baptist Church.

Due to health reasons, he stopped working at the nursing home and settled into retirement. During this
time, he delighted in providing advice to several local ministers and spending time with family and
friends. Gerald’s last couple of years were spent as a resident at Stillhouse Nursing and Rehab where he
entered into glory on April 30, 2022. He is mostly remembered for his booming voice,
his animated preaching style and delivering spirited eulogies.

He is survived by his children; grandchildren, Betty Jean (BJ) Billingsley (Denver Colorado);
grandchildren, Anthony Billingsley-Carter, Brooklyn McDaniel and Robert Daniels; Derald Powell and
wife Sindy Powell, grandchildren, Jamel Lewis, Tariq Clemons, Alex Zarza-Powell, and Jaiden Gamez; Son
Marcus Powell (Oakland, California) Dawnyelle and Jerrell Sourie (Muskogee, Oklahoma), grandchildren,
Dawnyelle (Neicy) Morgan and Derrielle Sourie.

Gerald is also survived by siblings Ricky Powell and wife Vera; and Denise Powell-Collins and husband
James Collins; Bettye Stevens (Tallahassee, Florida). Nieces: Lyris Craig, Dasha Randall, Camesha Gill,
Larissa Bass, Chastity Dudley, & amp; Charity Cross. Nephews: Jailon Powell and John Cross.
He was preceded in death by both parents and his brother Pastor Kevin Powell