Mary Arlene Gibson-Powell

Mary Arlene Gibson-Powell went home to be with the Lord on Friday, July 25, 2025, at her home in Owings Mills, MD after a long battle with kidney disease and other medical complications. Her final days were spent with family and loved ones who adored and cherished her. Mary, known to many as Arlene, was born to Ernest Gibson and Lillie Bell Smalley on April 15, 1940, in Plainfield, NJ. At a young age she gave her life to the Lord and was baptized at Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield, NJ.
Her early education was obtained through the Plainfield Public School System. After graduating from high school, she went on to graduate from Beth Israel School of Nursing in Newark, NJ. She was a member of the nursing sorority Chi Eta Phi. She spent her early years working as a research nurse at Hoffman La Roche. She also worked for Newark Public Health, the Plainfield Public Health Center and the Diamond Institute for Infertility. She retired from Blue Cross/Blue Shield as a nurse case manager. In her later years she became an ordained minister. She loved and knew the Lord. She was part of the prison ministry at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Roanoke, VA and ministered at various nursing homes and conducted bible study at Cedarbrook Apartments in Plainfield, NJ.
Mary would often share stories of her travels around the world and would not leave out when her plane was hijacked to Cuba. She loved the arts and was an avid theater-goer. She enjoyed going to plays, musicals, operas and attending Malcolm's football games at Kings College. She had the gift of hospitality and often hosted parties, family reunions and holiday dinners at our home in South Orange, NJ. For years she volunteered for the United Cerebral Palsy telethons in the Catskills, NY. She always helped people in need. Always opening her doors to help whether it was family, friends or students from the nearby college. She lived a full life while serving others.
Mary and Bill Powell married in 1969 and from this union they had three children Malcolm, Nicole and Jamal. She loved and was so very proud of her children. She enjoyed spending the holidays in Atlanta, GA with her only grandson Jackson who she loved so very much. Mary loved a good meal, but she especially loved Jackson's meals and would always tell everyone how great of a cook he was. She would call him "my little chef". She would always look forward to his next meal. She also enjoyed playing UNO with him too. She loved getting her nails done, shopping and eating coconut shrimp from Red Lobster, cream of crab soup from Granny's, and bambam shrimp from Bone Fish Grill. She loved chocolate chip cookies too. She enjoyed going to Virginia Beach, botanical gardens, festivals, and theaters. All these things she loved to do with her children, grandson, family and friends.
We would like to thank her trusted caregivers, Danielle Smith, Tarisse Williams, Kira Smith and Emanuel Holley for the care, love, and support they gave to our mother and family. We would also like to thank Bridging Life Hospice for the compassionate and consistent care they provided to our mother, especially Joy (Hospice Nurse), Liz (Hospice aide), Melinda (Chaplin), Alicia (social worker) and everyone else who was involved in her care.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest Gibson and Lillie Bell Smalley and sister Eleanor Louise Gibson-Scott.
Mary leaves her legacy of love with her children, Malcolm Powell (Rita), Nicole Okpanachi (Joseph), Jamal Powell (Tiffany), grandson Jackson Powell, step-grandson Angel Jimenez, sisters-in-law Leanora Powell, and Shirley Williams, nieces, Donna Scott -Weiss (Steve), and Rev. Karen D. Scott, nephew, Orlando Williams, Great nieces Danielle Scott-Mitchell (Eugene), and Sharelle Ralph (Tracy), Great-great Nephew's Daniel Mitchell, and Isaiah Mitchell, and Great-great niece, Imani Scott (Erin), Great-great-great niece Ava Sky Harrison- Ralph, and longtime friends, Gloria Penn, Delores Banks, Delores Payne, and a host of friends, family and cousins.
Let the family know you care by leaving your condolences, favorite memories and thoughts and prayers on the Tribute Wall.