Iris Kennedy Powell
May 13, 1927
August 12, 2019
Visitation
Friday, August 16, 2019
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Serenity Funeral Home, Beulaville
Funeral Service
Saturday, August 17, 2019
2:00 PM
Serenity Funeral Home, Beulaville
Interment
Powell Family Cemetery, Kenansville
Kenansville, NC
Iris Kennedy Powell passed away peacefully at home on August 12, 2019, at the age of 92. She is predeceased by her parents, Lamon and Mary Kennedy, husband Carl Powell, brothers Woodley Kennedy and wife Faye, Warren Kennedy and son-in-law Robert Nery. Iris is survived by her daughters Karen Nery of Apex and Gina Hardy and husband Chip of Kenansville, grandchildren Carl Nery of Kenansville, Abby Stephenson and husband Mark of Clayton and Ben Hardy and wife Kathryn of Kenansville, great grandchildren Lydia and Paisley Stephenson and Robert and Oliver Nery, sister Mary Nell Carson and husband John of California, brothers Wayne Kennedy and wife Georgia of Angier, Jack Kennedy of Virginia, Keith Kennedy and wife Adrenia of Kenansville, Rudy Kennedy and wife Shirley of Kenansville, and sister-in-law Gerlene Kennedy of Wallace, brother-in-law Dulan Powell, and sisters-in-law Shirley Rouse and Jean Stanford and husband Alvin. For the last several years, Iris was lovingly cared for by two wonderful angels. Pat Beddingfield and Linda Moss cared and loved her as if she were their mother. Pat and Linda are now a part of our family, and we are forever grateful to them.
Born on May 13, 1927 Iris was the second oldest of 15 children seven of which died in infancy. Iris was the oldest of the children who survived and became a mother to her younger siblings and grandmother to their children. Loved and respected by all who knew her, Iris was a role model of a genuine Christian woman. Growing up the daughter of tenet farmers, Iris moved often during her childhood. Despite moving from school to school often attending multiple schools in a year, Iris was an exceptionally bright child and skipped a grade and despite the financial odds was able to attend Atlantic Christian College (now Barton) for a year during World War II. After completing her business program, Iris moved to Kinston and worked with the Agricultural Extension Service and later became secretary for Kinston First Baptist Church. It was during this time she met the love of her life Carl Powell. They were married on December 19, 1948 immediately following the morning worship service. The church was decorated for Christmas with beautiful red poinsettias which were always used to decorate her home at Christmas.
Following her marriage, Iris began working at the bank in Kenansville later working for local attorney primarily as a legal assistant for attorney Vance Gavin and later contracting to do title searches for local attorneys and mortgage firms.
In 1950 Iris and Carl bought their first farm outside of Kenansville later adding two more farms. It was here they raised their two girls in a loving Christian home teaching them the importance of hard work and family love and support. Although Iris worked during the winter months, she took off summers to work on the farm supporting her husband and being the perfect farmer’s wife. Although she had said she would never marry a farmer, she thrived as a farmer’s wife.
Often described as a true southern lady, Iris was loved and respected by all who knew her. She was full of grace and honor, and understood the true meaning of charity.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either:
Powell, Nery, Hardy Endowment
University of Mount Olive
634 Henderson St.
Mt. Olive, NC 28365
(in memo line put - Powell, Nery, Hardy Endowment)
Nery Family Scholarship
Campbell University
P.O. Box 125
Buies Creek, NC 27506
(in memo line put - Nery Family Scholarship)
