Joann B. Powell

Joann Benton Powell was born in her Opp, Alabama home to Joe Benton and Mary Annie Morrow in April of 1931. Nearly ninety years later, on March 18th, 2021, in her Fort Walton Beach home, in the love and care of family, Joann was welcomed to her Eternal home.

Joann was the youngest of The Benton Girls. Yes, “The Benton Girls” is capitalized, because if you were in Opp, you knew Betty, Jane, and Joann were a “thing.”

Joann went on to graduate from The University of Alabama as a member of the Chi Omega sorority. After leaving Tuscaloosa, she settled here in Fort Walton Beach and became Okaloosa County’s first art teacher when she was hired at Choctawhatchee High School.

Shortly after, Joann met the love of her life, Steve Powell. They were married in 1955 and had four children: Mariann, Stephanie, Jarratt, and Drew.

Throughout the years, Joann was known by all as someone who above all else, loved the Lord Jesus Christ and was not at all shy about sharing that with others. She was very generous to those in need and exceedingly kind to all around. She was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church, president of Women’s Aglow, and encouraged her husband in founding WPSM radio station over forty years ago. Later in life, she was still involved in ministry as a member of Abundant Life Fellowship and Destiny Worship Center here in Fort Walton.

As Joann Benton Powell joins her beloved Steve and Jarratt in Heaven, she is survived by her sister, Jane, three of her children, Mariann, Stephanie, and Drew, her daughter-in-love, Jeannie and son-in-love Doug, along with her eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Destiny Worship Center Fort Walton Beach, 233 Hill Avenue NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.  A private interment will be at Beal Memorial Cemetery.  Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com

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