Profile obituary: Mr. Marvin E. Powell

Family and colleagues mourned the passing of a Richmond County Board of Education architect Friday.

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Augusta resident Marvin E. Powell died Friday of brain cancer at University Hospital.

He was 52.

Mr. Powell was born in Augusta on June 6, 1952. He graduated from Hephzibah High School, then graduated from Southern Tech in Marietta with an architecture degree and worked with the Richmond County Board of Education for years, said Mr. Powell's brother, Ralph C. Powell Jr.

Mr. Powell designed many schools in Richmond County and added modern conveniences, helping to place the schools ahead of others in the area, Ralph Powell Jr. said.

He was always thinking of others, as well.

At one elementary school, Mr. Powell designed vertical windows with varying heights in the hallways, his brother said.

When asked why he designed the windows like that, Mr. Powell said he wanted children of all heights to be able to look out a window while walking down the hall, his brother said.

"His personality was above reproach," Ralph Powell Jr. said.

Helen Minchew, a Richmond County school board representative, met Mr. Powell many years ago when he designed a stage for Warren Road Elementary School.

"He was just as nice as anybody you could ever possibly want to know," Mrs. Minchew said. "A gentleman. Real concerned with doing a good job. He was so nice to work with."

Board President Jeff Padgett grew up with Mr. Powell. During their 50-year friendship, the pair joined Cub Scouts and attended grammar and high school together, Mr. Padgett said.

They also worked together when Mr. Padgett became school board president.

"It's a huge loss for the system," Mr. Padgett said. "Personally, Marvin was just a good man. He loved his family; he loved his job; he loved his community. I think his legacy lives on in the contributions he made to this community."

Mr. Powell is survived by his wife, Patricia, son, William Edward Powell, his parents, Ralph C. and Mary C. Powell, brother, Ralph C. Powell Jr., and sister, Donna P. Oellerich, of Hephzibah.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Thomas Poteet & Son. The family will receive friends Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Thomas Poteet & Son at 214 Davis Road in Augusta.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Reach Kate Lewis at (706) 823-3215 or kate.lewis@augustachronicle.com.