Dr. Sheila Marie Crossen-Powell

CROSSEN-POWELL, Dr. Sheila Marie, passed away peacefully at the age of 75 with Dwight, right by her side, on June 15, 2023.

Sheila was born in Richmond, Virginia on March 18, 1948. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eloise Marie Crossen and Dr. Richard William Crossen. Sheila is survived by her beloved husband, Dwight Powell; her eldest brother, Richard William Crossen and his wife, Bonnie; and her youngest brother, David Keith Crossen M.D. and his wife, Margaret Lee McGrath. A doting aunt, Sheila was blessed with four nieces and nephews, Jeremy and his wife, Karen Lindquist, Alison Lee Crossen Marschalk and her husband, Rob, Margaret Lee Crossen and John David Crossen and his wife, Helen; and five great-grandnieces and nephews, Grace, Faith (twins) and Juilia Crossen, Robert Butler and Eloise Carver Marschalk. Sheila's family would never be complete without an acknowledgment of her love of animals and their family pets, a dog, Mimi; and three cats, Jeter, Mickey and Lil Dude. Her friends lovingly honored her with a host of godchildren.

A graduate of St. Gertrude's in Richmond, Sheila maintained many lifelong friendships from her days at the all-girl prep school. Attending the alma mater of her Mother, she received her B.A. in history from the College of William and Mary. She received a Master's in Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Pursuing her passion for knowledge, she received her Ph.D. in Criminology from William and Mary.

Following in the footsteps of her father, Sheila devoted her life to service in her community. She began her career as a social worker with Richmond City, serving Gilpin Court and many of our most disadvantaged communities. She served as an Assistant Director at Hanover Department of Social Services, and then was named Director of the Hanover Department of Social Services in June 2011. Her ability to absorb complex information and turn it into actionable information explains how invaluable her contributions were to Hanover. She was a supporter of the mission of the Comboni Missionary Sisters. She will be remembered for her uncompromising intellect, compassion and love of life.

Sheila married the love of her life, Dwight Baden Powell, on October 27, 1984. Dwight was a former baseball player and they both shared a love of the sport throughout her life. With Dwight by her side, there appeared to be no new adventure she wouldn't embrace and no shortage of adventures that seemed to find and embrace her. They made their home in Ashland, Virginia where she enjoyed gardening and a glass of champagne. At Yankee Stadium in NYC, a former player for the Yankees struck up a conversation with Sheila and "the next thing we knew, we were whisked off to Steinbrener's office. Once there, he gave Sheila the keys to the stadium." Sheila made life with Dwight full of possibilities, memories and the unexpected.

Sheila Powell Ph.D. will always be remembered by her family, friends and anyone who encountered her, as an adventurer, a force for good trouble, and a loyal friend and YANKEES FAN. She took all who knew her on an adventure with a smile and twinkle in her eye with her adoring husband always ready for the ride, always right by her side.

What may be a surprise to many of her close family and friends included, was that Sheila was an adventuress who loved to travel, to ride horses and was a beautiful fly fisherman whose lure a trout could not resist.

A Celebration of Sheila's Life will be held at Bliley's – Central, 3801 Augusta Avenue on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Comboni Missionary Sisters or Hanover Humane Society.