Debbie Darlington Powell

OZARK...Mrs. Debbie Darlington Powell, a resident of Ozark, died early Thursday evening, December 28, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones at her home after a five-year battle with cancer.  She was 66.

            Celebration of Life Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, December 31, 2023, in the First United Methodist Church of Ozark with Reverend Dr. Billy Gaither and Reverend Melanie Sebastian-Foust officiating. A eulogy will be given by Reverend David Parrish. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Sunday in the church sanctuary.

            Memorial contributions may be made to the Kingsley Christian Learning Center, c/o First United Methodist Church of Ozark, 167 E. Broad St., Ozark, AL 36360 or to a charity of the donor's choice.

            Debbie Powell, as the saying goes, never met a stranger. She was a friend to all and family to the fortunate among us. Debbie was a caring and giving person and was perhaps the most prolific gift giver at Christmas time there ever was. She didn’t just seem to know everyone, she also knew who they were related to, and in an incredible number of cases, they were somehow related to her.

            Debbie had an unending love for her husband, Philip, that was forged over more than four decades together. Debbie and Philip recently celebrated their 41^st Wedding Anniversary and they were together for four years prior to making it official. She loved her two boys, Philip Allan, and Hunter and she adored her four grandchildren, Alice, Holton, Greer, and Payne.

           Debbie was born in Heidelberg, Germany in 1957 to Laurence Edwin Darlington, Jr. and Rachel Byrd Darlington.  Rachel, who is a born-and-bred Ozarkian, brought Debbie and her sisters, Donna and Cathy, back to live in Ozark twice during their father’s Army tours in Vietnam and Korea.  The Darlington’s also lived in Ft. Eustis, Virginia and Ft. Ord, California during her father’s career in the Transportation Corp before finally returning to Ozark in 1968 upon his retirement.

          Debbie was a 1975 graduate of Carroll High School.  While in high school Debbie met, and dated once, her future husband, Philip A. Powell.  However, they did not actually become a couple until 1978.  As a sophomore at Carroll High School, she was voted Class Favorite, and she became a member of the Tri-M Juniorette Club.  Debbie was voted Miss Valentine 1975 and Who’sWho Whittiest.  (Notably, Philip was voted Most Mischievous.)

         Debbie continued her education at George C. Wallace Community College and the University of Alabama.  Prior to getting married, she worked at Ft.  Rucker (now Ft. Novosel) in the flight simulator area.  Later she became a trusted member of the staff of Harbin’s Jewelers.  Most importantly, throughout the years, Debbie was a business partner and co-owner with Philip of the family businesses at the Ozark Dairy Queen and Southeastern Exhaust Cleaners (SEC).

Debbie loved playing golf at the Ozark Country Club and was a proud member of the Ladies Golf Association.  For over 40 years she was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, holding every office including President.  Debbie was a member of the First United Methodist Church.  Lake Eufaula was her “Happy Place” and she loved Alabama football.  Roll Tide!

            Debbie was preceded in death by her father, Laurence "Pete" Darlington, Jr. and her stepfather, Leon L. Hood, Jr. She is survived by her husband, Philip Allan Powell, Ozark; two sons, Philip Allan Powell, Jr. (Caitlin), Dothan and Matthew Hunter Powell (Michelle), Headland; four grandchildren, Alice Powell, Panama City Beach, Florida, Holton, Greer, and Payne Powell, Headland; her mother, Rachel Byrd Darlington Hood, Ozark; sisters, Donna Eldridge (Wayne), Ozark and Cathy Bedsole (Steve), Hilton Head, South Carolina; step-brother, Trey Hood, Ozark; step-sister, Stephanie German (Jerry), Ozark; brother-in-law, Dennis Powell (Marianne), Ozark; nieces, nephews, and cousins.