“Woody” Powell was certainly special to Pittman Park United Methodist Church, Georgia Southern, and the Statesboro community. His residence was rather small, located just behind the Pizza Inn, now El Jalapenos on 301 South, but his giving spirit was so large that the memories live on today.
Woody had more than 200 rose bushes covering everything in his yard except the driveway. Every color and fragrance was on display and in abundance. Dr. Powell, however, did not keep the beauty to himself. He tended the roses meticulously, pampering them and sharing their beauty by cutting and delivering the blossoms all over the county to the delight of unexpected recipients. One such gift was in July, to a church member’s family wedding. Woody cut and prepped more than twenty dozen buds for transporting to the North Carolina ceremony location.
Perhaps he was better known as the “Pecan Pie Man,” baking dozens at a time, and delivering them to others, such as the faculty of Georgia Southern. On several occasions he baked one for every member of the Administrative Board of our church!
His legacy lives on today in the Woody Powell Sunday School Class, and the Woody Powell Sharing Group he began in the late 1960s. The prayer group was held each Tuesday morning at his home; 6:30 a.m.! Woody cooked eggs, bacon, (flowers on the table) and toast, with coffee, milk and OJ.
The group has had from 10-14 active members since those early days. After finishing the delicious meal and chewing on the latest news topics, the men shared a devotion and each in turn spoke a prayer, which concludes even today by reciting the Lord’s Prayer with hands clasped around the table.
Today’s meetings do not include the food or flowers, and the beginning time is 8:00 in the church conference room. Several founding members are still in active attendance and participation. Some eyes and ears have begun to fail, and canes support passage, yet these men have remained steadfast to the prayer heritage begun by Dr. Woody Powell.
Hadley Campbell