Sharon (Sherry) Yvonne Powell

Sharon (Sherry) Yvonne Powell, passed away on Friday, July 17, 2026 after a 3+ year battle with cancer. She was born March 14, 1948 in Thomasville, GA to Leon S. Powell and Mattie Williams Powell. Sherry refused to let cancer keep her down. In fact, until the day she died, Sherry enjoyed splitting her time between her home in Tallahassee and her home on St. George Island. She was a tie that bound her large circle of friends on the island, making and sharing memories with jeep rides and boating, in early years and with golf carting and happy hours of porch sitting and sunset viewing with friends more recently. Sherry worked for FSU for thirty years, retiring from FSU College Programs where she helped to administer the Panama and Costa Rica branches of FSU. Her career included many trips to Panama and Costa Rica during the Manuel Noriega de facto rule and included memories like the opportunity to travel through the locks of the Panama Canal aboard a Greek freighter. Sherry’s love for St. George Island began in 1989. She loved not only the beach, but those early years when the old Turpentine trail was still accessible for wild flower picking. She lived on the bay side of the island and eagerly had installed a floating dock on her canal to accommodate boating. She greatly enjoyed years of weekend boating up the Apalachicola River, and over to Little St. George and Dog Island. Her love for these adventures resulted in being a charter member of the St. George Island Yacht Club and resulted in long lasting friendships with a multitude of islanders. Sherry was preceded in death by her parents, her companion of twenty-two years, Charles (Sunny) Atwood, and her brother Leon P. (Butch) Powell. She is survived by her sister, Jan Powell of Tallahassee and St. George, her half-brother, Marvin Downing (Iris) of Lecanto, FL, her niece, Sharon Slaughter (Phil) of Thomasville GA, her great nephews Zachary Sherrod and Spencer Sherrod (Hannah) and her great, great nephew and great, great niece, Sawyer Sherrod and Haven Sherrod, all of Thomasville GA. She also leaves behind her constant companion, her precious poodle, Noel. A service is being planned, please continue to check back for complete information. Todd Wahlquist of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with their arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to: St George Lighthouse Association, Inc. 2B East Gulf Beach Drive, St. George Island, FL 32328.

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Sharon (Sherry) Yvonne Powell

March 14, 1948 - July 17, 2026