The Rev. Dr. Paul Richard Powell

1942 - 2024

The Rev. Dr. Paul Richard Powell, 81, of New Orleans passed away in Jena, LA on Thursday, February 22, 2024. Paul was born April 30, 1942, in Jena, one of four children of the late Vernon Floyd and Enid Barrett Powell. As well as his parents, he was predeceased by twin brothers Ronnie of Jena and Larry of Jacksonville FL. He is survived by his beloved sister Kathy Powell of Jena. Paul was a graduate of Jena High School, and received a BA in religion from Louisiana College. He received master's degrees in divinity and church music from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a master's degree in library science from LSU. He received a PhD in liturgical studies from Drew Theological School of Drew University. Paul originally intended to become a Baptist pastor, but his career path diverged, first, into church music and then into librarianship, while he continued to be a part-time church musician - organist, choir director, and singer - for the rest of his life. He was a librarian at several liberal arts colleges, and then at Georgia Tech, before finding his "dream job" at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he served for twenty years. His last library position was cataloger of the Jesuit collection then housed at Loyola University. Paul's focus of study and research was the hymn. For many years he was the senior editor of The Dictionary of North American Hymnology, a decades-long project of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. The dictionary covers nearly 5,000 hymnals published over more than 300 years. Now hosted by Hymnary.org, the DNAH is an indispensable tool for worship planning in most churches. In 2010 Paul was named a Fellow of the Hymn Society, the citation reading: "Paul R. Powell's dedication to hymnology has enriched our understanding of hymns and their historical context. His work continues to impact scholars, musicians, and congregations worldwide." While Paul was ecumenical in both education and employment, his first love was the gospel hymnody of his Baptist roots. He was an authority on Baylus B. (B.B.) McKinney, a renowned Baptist hymn writer. Additionally, he, along with Terry W. York, assembled essays titled Hymnology in the Service of the Church, honoring their mentor Harry Eskew, a long-time professor of music at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. A devoted churchman, wherever he worked or lived, Paul's spiritual home was St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church, beginning in his student days at New Orleans Seminary. Upon retiring to New Orleans in 2001, he threw himself into the life of the church, and was Associate Pastor, serving a nearly two-year interim pastorate from 2011 to 2013. He concluded his service to the church as chef de cuisine for Wednesday night dinners. Paul was an excellent Southern cook, and an even better baker. Nothing gave him more pleasure than conversation with friends around a table. Along with his small family - his sister and a niece and a nephew - Paul is survived by his larger church family who loved him dearly. A celebration of Paul's life will be held at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church, 7100 St. Charles Avenue, on Friday, April 19, at 5:30 pm, in the form of a hymn-sing. A potluck dinner, Paul-style, will follow in the Fellowship Hall at which remembrances may be shared. The church, in collaboration with Paul's family, welcomes gifts in his memory for the renovation of "Paul's Kitchen."