THOMASVILLE — Mattie W. Powell passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, at her home in Tallahassee, Fla. Mrs. Powell was born to Clarence Claud and Katie Hammett Williams in Pelham, Ga., on May 16, 1921. Mattie grew up in and around Pelham. She married Leon Saxon Powell on Oct. 13, 1941, and was happily married for 56 years until Leo’s death in December 1996. During their life together, Leon and Mattie lived in Waycross, Ga., Thomasville, Ga., Mobile, Ala., Tifton, Ga., and Tallahassee and traveled extensively around the United States in their motor home, visiting friends and family every bit of the way. They raised three children, Leon Preston Powell, Sharon Yvonne Powell and Janice Elaine Powell in Thomasville, all of whom currently reside in Tallahassee. Mattie also leaves behind her granddaughter, Sharon Powell Sherrod, of Thomasville, and Sharon’s husband, Sam, and their two boys; Mattie’s great-grandsons, Zachary and Spencer Sherrod; two sisters, Ocie Piland, of Waycross, and Kathryn Wester, of Thomasville, and their children and families. Also surviving is Mattie’s sister-in-law, Alice Powell Rogers of Leesburg, Ga., and her family. Mattie was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence, who died at age 16  months, and by her oldest sister, Robbie Tatum, of Waycross. Mattie was a devoted member of Forest Heights Baptist Church, where she drove herself to attend church most Sundays and in fact where she attended the Sunday prior to her death. Mattie loved God, her children and all of her family members, including her family at Forest Heights. Mattie was active and involved every day of her life. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. EDT to 2 p.m. until the service on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at Forest Heights Baptist Church. A brief graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Thomasville, which will be conducted by Mattie’s nephew, the Rev. Andy Piland of Valdosta. — Bevis Funeral Home and Crematory