Eleanor Powell Bloomfield, Connecticut Obituary

Eleanor Powell

<div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:&quot;Microsoft YaHei&quot;;"><p style="line-height:1.3;margin:0 0 10.7px 0;"><em>Eleanor (Porter) Powell, 92, of Hartford, a beloved mother, grandmother, great- grandmother and great-great-grandmother peacefully entered into eternal rest on Saturday, May14, 2022 at home surrounded by love. Eleanor was born on January 1, 1930, in Tarboro, North Carolina to the late Eli Porter and Sedora Sherrod.</em></p><p style="line-height:1.3;margin:0 0 10.7px 0;"><em>Eleanor migrated to Connecticut, by the way of White Plains, N.Y. at the early age of 13, where she worked as a “Domestic House Care Executive” until relocating to Hartford CT, in 1950 where she met, married and started a family with Bassylyn (Toothpick) Powell. </em></p><p style="line-height:1.3;margin:0 0 10.7px 0;"><em>In addition, to working as a “Domestic House Care Executive,” Eleanor worked for The Hartford Insurance Company for many years until retiring in 1995. Following her retirement, unable to sit home, she took on a part-time position with the Hartford Public School system at the Alfred E. Burr Elementary School - Food Service Dept. where staff and students affectionately called her “Grandma!” there is where she remained until she took on the title “Lady of Leisure” in 1997.</em></p><p style="line-height:1.3;margin:0 0 10.7px 0;"><em>One of Eleanor’s favorite pastimes included cooking, and cooking for others brought her the most joy, both personal and professionally as well as spending time with her family. &nbsp;She also loved traveling, especially traveling with her “sister girlfriends” to The United National Ushers Conferences throughout the United States. &nbsp;In her later years, she enjoyed watching the daily news especially, MSNBC she never missed a showing of “Politics Nation” with Rev. Al Sharpton, Dancing with the Stars, The Voice and any award show on BET and her daily phone call with Mother Clay. Eleanor was &nbsp;also known to speak her mind… one thing about Miss Eli, you never had to question her feelings for you; she would let it be known in one way or another. &nbsp;</em></p><p style="line-height:1.3;margin:0 0 10.7px 0;"><em>Eleanor gave her life to Christ at an early age always keeping our Lord and Savior the head of her life. In 1968, Mother Powell was one of the founding and faithful members of The First Baptist Church of Hartford, currently known as The First Cathedral. Over the years, she served on multiple ministries of the church; The Flower Club and the Willing Workers, but serving on the Sr. Usher Board was most rewarding of them all. As a longtime member of The First Cathedral Usher Board, Eleanor graced the title of “Mother of the Board,” she was also a proud member of The Connecticut Interdenominational Church Ushers Association and Vicinity Inc. (CICUA) where she served in many leadership roles. </em></p><p style="line-height:1.3;margin:0 0 10.7px 0;"><em>Eleanor, affectionately known to many as Ma, Mommy, Mother, Nana, Ma-Ma, Grandmother, Grandma, Gigi, Auntie Eleanor, Mrs. Powell, Mother Powell, and Miss Eli. Everyone who knew and loved her will truly miss her. </em></p><p style="line-height:1.3;margin:0 0 10.7px 0;"><em>Eleanor leaves to cherish her memories two daughters, Yvonne D. Powell and Jeannette Little; one devoted son-law, Roosevelt Terry, all of Hartford; six grandchildren, Aaron (Gloria) Powell of East Hartford, CT; Alexander Barber, Jr., Jason Barber, Roosevelt Terry, II, all of Hartford, CT; Kim (Steven), Brown-Greene, Charles (Rochelle) Little, Jr. of Bloomfield, CT; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren, two dear nieces ,Valerie and Terry of Newport News, Virginia; &nbsp;two sister-friends Mother Colman and Mother Clay; five bonus children, Bryon Goodson, Clarence Hightower, Patricia Fisher, Riley François, all of Hartford, CT; Sherry Clancy of Carrollton, TX; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.</em></p><p style="line-height:1.3;font-family:Cambria, serif;margin:0 0 10.7px 0;"><em style="font-family:&quot;Microsoft YaHei&quot;;">Besides her parents she was predeceased by her loving children, Bernard Powell and Therma Elaine Terry; grandson, Eric Bernard Barber; siblings: Maggie “Ray” Brown, Mary Porter, brothers, Wheeler Porter, Shane Porter, Willie Porter, James Porter, and &nbsp;special cousin John Knight.</em></p><p style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;margin:0;"><br></p></div>
January 1, 1930 - May 14, 202201/01/193005/14/2022
Share Obituary:

Share a memory

Add to your memory
Photos/Video
Candle
Mementos

Obituary

Eleanor (Porter) Powell, 92, of Hartford, a beloved mother, grandmother, great- grandmother and great-great-grandmother peacefully entered into eternal rest on Saturday, May14, 2022 at home surrounded by love. Eleanor was born on January 1, 1930, in Tarboro, North Carolina to the late Eli Porter and Sedora Sherrod.

Eleanor migrated to Connecticut, by the way of White Plains, N.Y. at the early age of 13, where she worked as a “Domestic House Care Executive” until relocating to Hartford CT, in 1950 where she met, married and started a family with Bassylyn (Toothpick) Powell.

In addition, to working as a “Domestic House Care Executive,” Eleanor worked for The Hartford Insurance Company for many years until retiring in 1995. Following her retirement, unable to sit home, she took on a part-time position with the Hartford Public School system at the Alfred E. Burr Elementary School - Food Service Dept. where staff and students affectionately called her “Grandma!” there is where she remained until she took on the title “Lady of Leisure” in 1997.

One of Eleanor’s favorite pastimes included cooking, and cooking for others brought her the most joy, both personal and professionally as well as spending time with her family.  She also loved traveling, especially traveling with her “sister girlfriends” to The United National Ushers Conferences throughout the United States.  In her later years, she enjoyed watching the daily news especially, MSNBC she never missed a showing of “Politics Nation” with Rev. Al Sharpton, Dancing with the Stars, The Voice and any award show on BET and her daily phone call with Mother Clay. Eleanor was  also known to speak her mind… one thing about Miss Eli, you never had to question her feelings for you; she would let it be known in one way or another.  

Eleanor gave her life to Christ at an early age always keeping our Lord and Savior the head of her life. In 1968, Mother Powell was one of the founding and faithful members of The First Baptist Church of Hartford, currently known as The First Cathedral. Over the years, she served on multiple ministries of the church; The Flower Club and the Willing Workers, but serving on the Sr. Usher Board was most rewarding of them all. As a longtime member of The First Cathedral Usher Board, Eleanor graced the title of “Mother of the Board,” she was also a proud member of The Connecticut Interdenominational Church Ushers Association and Vicinity Inc. (CICUA) where she served in many leadership roles.

Eleanor, affectionately known to many as Ma, Mommy, Mother, Nana, Ma-Ma, Grandmother, Grandma, Gigi, Auntie Eleanor, Mrs. Powell, Mother Powell, and Miss Eli. Everyone who knew and loved her will truly miss her.

Eleanor leaves to cherish her memories two daughters, Yvonne D. Powell and Jeannette Little; one devoted son-law, Roosevelt Terry, all of Hartford; six grandchildren, Aaron (Gloria) Powell of East Hartford, CT; Alexander Barber, Jr., Jason Barber, Roosevelt Terry, II, all of Hartford, CT; Kim (Steven), Brown-Greene, Charles (Rochelle) Little, Jr. of Bloomfield, CT; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren, two dear nieces ,Valerie and Terry of Newport News, Virginia;  two sister-friends Mother Colman and Mother Clay; five bonus children, Bryon Goodson, Clarence Hightower, Patricia Fisher, Riley François, all of Hartford, CT; Sherry Clancy of Carrollton, TX; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Besides her parents she was predeceased by her loving children, Bernard Powell and Therma Elaine Terry; grandson, Eric Bernard Barber; siblings: Maggie “Ray” Brown, Mary Porter, brothers, Wheeler Porter, Shane Porter, Willie Porter, James Porter, and  special cousin John Knight.


To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eleanor Powell please visit our Tribute Store.

Events

May
26
Interment
Thursday, May 26 2022
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery
1 Cottage Grove Road
Bloomfield, CT 06002
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail
May
26
Visitation
Thursday, May 26 2022
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Henry L. Fuqua Funeral Service (A Division of Howard K. Hill Funeral Services)
94 Granby Street
Bloomfield, CT 06002
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail
May
26
Celebration of Life
Thursday, May 26 2022
11:00 AM
Henry L. Fuqua Funeral Service (A Division of Howard K. Hill Funeral Services)
94 Granby Street
Bloomfield, CT 06002
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail