Bernice L. "Bunny" Powell

Bernice L. "Bunny" Powell went to be with the Lord on Nov. 8, 2015. She was born in Enola, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 26, 1925, and moved to St. Augustine in the late 1940s. She met and married the love of her life, Clyatt Powell, who predeceased her in 1995.
She considered her most important job to be the raising of her five children and her family. Her early career included public relations and film editing for Marine Studios of Florida in its early days. She was featured as a model on many of the early fliers and brochures produced for advertising by the oceanarium. Her later career included business office manager for Zoric Cleaners, and she retired as a deputy property appraiser at the St. Johns County Property Appraiser's Office. Bunny served actively as a first lady of the City of St. Augustine during her husband's tenure as mayor of the city. She completed high school at East Pennsboro High (Enola, Pennsylvania), where she held the superlative title of most attractive. Bunny's education also included an associate degree in business.
She was a gourmet cook and excellent seamstress. She was an active and dedicated member of Ancient City Baptist Church, where she served for more than 50 years, including the Sunday school department as a loving teacher for children and teens. Her home was always open to those who had a need, and she listened with the most caring ear and heart. She was always the champion of the person who needed a hand, teaching her children to never look down on anyone unless you were helping them get up. Her example of love, her faith, her smile and her wink will be missed and cherished by all who knew her.
She is survived by the children whom she loved and who loved her dearly: Linda (Jay) Ginn, Curtis Powell, Richard "Rick" (Jennifer Thompson) Powell, Terri (David) Wampler, all of St. Augustine, and William (Cindy) Powell of Baltimore, Maryland, and the late Clyatt "Skipper" Powell Jr. and wife Lynne DuPont. She was an extraordinary grandmother to her grandchildren: Bethany Ginn-Waldrop, of Brooklyn, New York; Jayce Ginn, Chelsye Ginn, Sam Wampler, Holly Wampler, all of St. Augustine; Josh, Samantha and Nicole Powell, of Baltimore, Maryland; and Kip, Jamie, Brian and predeceased Joey Powell of St. Augustine.
Her one surviving brother, Donald (JoAnn) Sheaffer, still resides in Enola, Pennsylvania; and sister-in-law, Lois Sheaffer, resides in Jacksonville, Florida. Many loved nieces and nephews, along with their families, live throughout the East Coast.
Visitation will be held at Craig Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, and a service of celebration and memorial will be at Ancient City Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, 2015. Flowers are gratefully accepted, and those wishing to make a donation may do so to the Ministry of Music at Ancient City Baptist Church or the Youth Ministry at First United Methodist Church.
Craig Funeral Home, Crematory and Memorial Park (www.craigfuneralhome.com) is in charge of arrangements.