Herbert Powell

Mr. Herbert Louis Powell, 84, of Chamberlain Ferry Rd. entered into rest on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at his residence.

He was born on November 20, 1941, in Hampton, Georgia, to the late Guy Earnest Powell and Mary Eunice Floyd Powell. Herbert grew up with a strong work ethic. In high school, he became very involved in 4-H. His leadership led him to Rock Eagle 4-H Center, where he served as a counselor and became one of the few counselors to serve for five straight summers. He was especially proud to serve as the Himboylian Chief, the highest rank, and his years of service there earned him a scholarship that helped make his college education possible.

He first attended ABAC before transferring to the University of Georgia. Even with scholarship assistance, he worked many jobs at both schools to help pay his way through college. At UGA, he lived in the Beef Barn on campus in a converted room with only the bare necessities, while a $10,000 bull across the barn enjoyed far better accommodations. Herbert also worked in the cafeteria at both ABAC and the University of Georgia. He graduated from UGA with a degree in Animal Science and Horticulture. Soon after graduation, he was hired by the University of Georgia Extension Service and began his first job in Washington, Georgia.

It was in Lincoln County that Herbert met the love of his life on a Friday night at a Lincoln County football game. Marcene often said that the moment she laid eyes on him, she knew he was the man she would marry. The two were married on June 4, 1966. They made their home in Washington, Georgia, for the next twenty years. Together they raised two sons, Scott and Kent, and later welcomed their daughter, Nancy, in 1977 after the heartbreaking loss of their youngest son, Kent, in a tragic automobile accident in 1975 at the age of three.

The loss of their son was one of the greatest sorrows Herbert and Marcene ever endured, yet they faced it together with courage. For 59 years, they were each other’s rock and purpose on earth. They often signed cards to one another with the words MTY/LTT, meaning More Than Yesterday and Less Than Tomorrow. In time, they also used their own painful experience to comfort young couples who had suffered similar losses, offering encouragement rooted in their faith in God.

Herbert served in the Lions Club, the Athletic Booster Club, and in various roles within his church. He remained the county extension agent during those early years, then stepped away for about ten years to operate his own farm, where he raised purebred Yorkshire hogs. Eventually, he returned to the extension service in Washington until opportunities arose for him to take on greater leadership roles as Director of the UGA Extension Service in other counties.

One of those positions was in Lincolnton, Georgia, only about 20 minutes from Marcene’s hometown. He strengthened the Lincoln County 4-H Livestock program and helped countless children learn how to choose, care for, and work with their animals, including heifers, steers, and lambs. He also encouraged participation in District Project Achievement, Livestock Judging, and Poultry Judging.

Many summers, Herbert loaded up groups of children and took them to camp. He was also instrumental in encouraging hometown youth to audition for Clover’s and Company, the renowned Georgia 4-H performing group. Several local 4-H members earned coveted spots in that celebrated organization. Through his work with the Extension Service in Lincoln County, he was also involved in important community projects, including the water treatment plant. He retired in 2002, though retirement never fully removed him from public life.

In retirement, Herbert was elected to the Rayle Electric Membership Corporation Board of Directors, where he served until his death. His generosity extended to countless causes, including The Shriners and other organizations supporting children all over the world. His family often joked about the many greeting cards, address labels, and other items he received as gifts for giving, and Herbert would simply reply, “Well, at least you will always have a card for your birthday and other things.”

One of the greatest joys of his life was being a grandfather and great-grandfather. His grandchildren meant everything to him. He especially loved taking them for ice cream and bringing them to the stockyard on Wednesdays for the sale.

In addition to his parents, Herbert was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marcene Olivia Poss Powell; his son, Kent Louis Powell; his brothers, Ernest Wayne Powell and Joseph Franklin Powell; his sisters, Mary Louise Powell Walker and Martha Jean Powell Ridings; his brothers-in-law, David Walker and Glenn Allen Poss; and his sister-in-law, Rusty Powell.

Herbert is survived by a son; Scott Powell, daughter; Nancy Carolyn Powell and husband, Chris Etterlee II, grandchildren; Olivia Hohlwein Hinton and husband, Austin, Kent Louis Powell, Alexis Grace English, and husband Dylan, Joseph Guy Powell, Hayden Hayes Hohlwein and companion Kennadi Land, and Joshua Ryan Bower, great grandchildren; Audrie Grace Hinton and soon to be born, Everett Hayes English, brothers in law; Roy Mack Poss and wife, Janice, and Brent Poss, along with many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Rebecca Gibbs for her devoted care to Herbert in the last few weeks.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 11 o’clock a.m. at Frist Assembly of God. Interment will follow at Resthaven Cemetery, Washington. The family will receive friends beginning at 10 o’clock Saturday morning until the hour of the service at the church. Pallbearers are Kent Powell, Joseph Powell, Hayden Hohlwein, Joshua Bower, Austin Hinton, and Dylan English. The Rayle EMC Board of Directors will serve as honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Herbert’s memory to the Georgia 4-H Foundation at this link: https://georgia4hfoundation.org/herbert-powell/ or by mail to Georgia 4-H Foundation, c/o Ryan Rose, 313 Hoke Smith Annex, Athens, GA 30602.

Beggs Funeral Home 200 May Ave., Lincolnton is honored to serve the family of Mr. Herbert Louis Powell.