Booker Powell Sr.

Booker T. Powell, Sr.,  was born 16 June 1934 in Birmingham, Alabama and went to be with the Lord on 31 December 2020.  We lost an honorable and loving husband father, brother, grandfather, and friend.

He enlisted in the United States Air Force on 4 November 1951 with nearly 30 years of service.  He was the Chief Flight Steward assigned to the Presidential Support Group, responsible to the President, vice-president, cabinet level and congressional personnel during the last six years of his military career.  He served with the administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. He retired at the rank of (E-9) Chief Master Sergeant.

He was highly decorated: NCO Academy Graduate Ribbon, Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, AF Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Longevity Service Award with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, AF Outstanding Unit Award with two Oak Leaf Clusters, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with PALM and Campaign Medal, AF Good Conduct Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters.

His tours of duty were Laughlin AFB, Texas; Paris, France; Wiesbaden, Germany; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, Incirlik, Turkey, and Andrews AFB, DC. His military assignments extended to various parts of the world. He met and mingled with influential and prestigious individuals such as Coretta Scott King, Andrew Young, Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, and Justice Thurgood Marshall.

After his retirement, he worked at the City Club of San Antonio, Petroleum Club and Federal Government before becoming a self-employed business owner and realtor.

He married his high school sweetheart, Lula Mae Tubbs on 13 December 1953.  They celebrated 67 years of marriage on 13 December 2020.

He would say he had a good ride. He lived an “OUTSTANDING”, happy, eventful, purpose filled life.

He enjoyed cooking, hunting, fishing, traveling, watching old western movies and listening to music especially Gospel. He was a member of Dodd Field Chapel Gospel Service at Fort Sam Houston.

He is preceded in death by his parents, George Powell and Versie Melton; son Lee Andrew. He is survived by his wife,  Lula Mae; brother, Lee James, his children Janice V. Wright, Sonia A. Jefferson (Dale), Booker Jr (Lisa); grandchildren (9); great-grandchildren (17); great-great-grandchildren (2), many nieces and nephews, other relatives and close friends.

A Public Visitation will be held at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with a Private Viewing from 11:00 a.m. to 12: p.m. Due to Covid-19, the family has chosen not to have a the Funeral Service public, it will be privately held at 12:00 p.m. Please visit our website to access the live stream link.