Shirley Jean Harris Powell

Shirley Jean Harris Powell, affectionately known as Chocolate and Shelly Jean, was born December 20, 1948, in rural Charleston, Missouri to Luther Harris and Mary Howard Myles. In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Marilyn Patterson, her sisters, Beatrice Bell, Murphy Palmer, Flemmie Butler, Aretha Robinson, and Janet Rogers, and a special nephew she helped raise, Dominique Powell.

Her favorite passion was attending church. She was a lifelong member of St. Matthews Full Gospel Missionary Baptist Church in Charleston, Missouri. While attending, she served as President of the Usher Board.

She attended Phillips School in rural Charleston until the eighth grade.

On May 29, 1966, she was married to Willie Powell by Reverend Wallace. To this union, five children were born: three boys, Kevin, William, and Richard, and two girls, Marilyn and Burnett. They shared 44 years of marriage and love together until his passing.

Shirley was a hardworking woman. She was employed at Brown Shoe Company for 25 years. She also worked for Lanie Black as a housekeeper for 15 years.

In her free time, Shirley loved to cook and decorate her yard.

On Thursday, April 3, 2025, Shirley retired from her earthly duties at the age of 76 years, three months, and 14 days. She will be missed beyond measure.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories, her sons, Kevin Powell of Charleston, Missouri, William (Carman) Powell of St. Louis, Missouri, and Richard (Gertrude) Powell of New Madrid, Missouri, her daughter, Burnett (Lorenzo) Duncan of Paducah, Kentucky, her brothers, Larry Harris of Sacramento, California, and Lawrence (Clotill) Harris of Gary, Indiana, her sisters, Linda (Larry) Webb of Gary, Indiana, Lorna (Robert) Ricardo of Pittsburg, California, and Mary Williams of Bloomington, Illinois, a son-in-law, Danny Patterson of Bloomington, Illinois, her brothers-in-law, Marvin Gillespie of Charleston, Missouri and Eddie Powell of St. Louis, Missouri, her sister-in-law, Margaret Powell of Chicago, Illinois, her nephews she helped raise, Michael Powell and Reggie Powell of St. Louis, Missouri, her niece she helped raise, Kassandra Kimble of Charleston, Missouri, ten grandchildren, Marcus Caldwell, Brandon Adams, Jaheim Powell, Christopher Powell, Phillip Duncan, Troy Patterson, Seneca Patterson, Marcus Granberry, Ashley Caldwell, and Ronnise Powell Mitchell, seven great grandchildren, a lady she loved as if she were her own daughter, Amelia Rigney Campbell, her close friends, Rosemary Clark and family, and Edward and Pearl Kent, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Friends may call Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. until the funeral hour of 11:00 A.M. at Mercy Seat Missionary Baptist Church in Charleston, Missouri with Pastor Arthur Cassell officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery at a later date. The Williams Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.