Memorial Gifts & Donations
Geraldine Powell Barrett died at 12:15 in Wilmington, N.C., on the morning of May 28, 2008.
Born October 9, 1921, in Wake County, to the late William Herbert and Mary Dewey Powell, she was eighty-six at the time of her death.
Elegant yet engaged, strong-willed yet giving, proud yet humble, Jerry packed a six-shooter as a young girl and rode with Tom Mix and Tim McCoy nearly every Saturday at the nickel movies. A true redhead later affectionately known as “brick-top,” she went on to be the teenager most “checked” by the roving pairs of home-visiting boys of her day. She danced the meanest jitterbug, always in he middle of the ballroom, always with her dance card full, until a French teacher’s match-making made her known to a cross-town rival high school fellow named Charles Francis, “Charlie,” Barrett. They met and her dance card held only one name from then until now, nearly 65 years of that time as husband and wife.
Jerry raised three sometimes rambunctious boys, giving them her strong sense of fairness, dignity, honesty and the capacity to become unique human beings in their own right. She also taught grammar school, and became the most sought-after event decorator at every church and community institution she ever joined. Her artistry with flowers, greenery, home furnishings, and fine art arrangements was renowned.
She was a woman of striking beauty, decided tastes and opinions, warm affection, keen intelligence, grace and compassion who worked through many volunteer channels over the years to help those who were less fortunate than she.
Through it all she continued to love, inspire and nurture her husband Charlie, her three sons Chuck (and wife Melody), David (and wife Barbara), and Tom (and wife Sharon). Jerry is also survived by her grandsons Robb and Jeremey (and wife Heather) and three great-grandsons, Gabriel, Iain, and Judah.
The family and friends will celebrate her life and faith at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 2, 2008, at the Little Chapel on the Boardwalk Presbyterian Church, 2 W. Fayetteville Street, Wrightsville Beach, NC.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Lower Cape Fear Hospice , 2222 S 17th Street, Wilmington, NC 28401.
Wilmington Burial and Cremation Service, 1535 S 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403 910.791.9099
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