Funeral services for James Maurice Powell, Sr., 85, will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, February 21, 2025 at Clark Springs Baptist Church in Eros, Louisiana.  Pastor Kyle Bryan will be officiating.  Interment will follow at Clark Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, under the care and direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, West Monroe.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Thursday, February 20, 2025 at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in West Monroe.

Maurice was born on February 27, 1939 in Jena, Louisiana and passed away on February 14, 2025 in West Monroe.  Maurice was a graduate of Jena High School and a veteran of the United States Air Force.  Maurice worked for many years as a printing press operator and retired from Century Printing. A devout Southern Baptist, he shared his faith in Jesus Christ through serving as a deacon and choir member for many years, at Fellowship Baptist Church, Ridge Avenue Baptist Church and Clark Springs Baptist Church.

Maurice was happily married twice. He raised two wonderful children with Odeatrice “Dee” Poole Powell, his childhood sweetheart. Following her death, Maurice found love again with an old friend who was also widowed, the late Betty Vines Polk Powell.

Maurice was a devoted grandfather who often had Johnny’s Pizza lunches and movie nights with his grandchildren. He loved chocolate and pizza.  He was an excellent friend and neighbor, always available to help with anything from a lawnmower repair to a ride to school. He always seemed to have a neighborhood cat that he was feeding.

Maurice was an avid reader and film buff who loved Westerns and World War II movies. He was always ready with a book or movie recommendation, and he’d follow up to see what you thought about it.  In his younger years, Maurice enjoyed traveling. Although health problems limited his mobility in recent years, he kept up with family and the friends he’d made throughout his life through phone and computer. He never forgot a birthday on Facebook. His grandkids will miss his sweet and funny text messages and photos.

Maurice was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Odeatrice “Dee” Poole; second wife, Betty Vines Polk Powell; parents, OD Powell and Mellonee Wilson Powell; and sister, Doris Powell Gray.

Maurice is survived by his son, James M. “Jimmy” Powell Jr. of Bastrop and wife Alex; daughter, Jill Lynn Powell Mills of Sacramento, CA and husband Bob; granddaughter, Ashley Nicole Mills of Sacramento, CA and husband Mark Lukawski; grandson, Parker James Powell currently stationed at RAF Molesworth in England; and granddaughters, Vivian Elizabeth Powell and Lily Catherine Powell, both of West Monroe; step-son, Aaron Polk of Monroe and wife Stephanie; step-daughter, Amy Stahl of Lyons, CO and husband Doug; step-grandchildren, Macy Stahl, Gavin Polk and Garrett Polk; numerous nieces and nephews; and a beloved cat, Susie.

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