Obituary of Nelva Lou Powell

Nelva Lou Ford Powell passed away peacefully at her home on August 28, 2024, after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 83. Nelva was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend. It has often been said that everyone who met Nelva fell in love with her. Nelva was famous for her warm, loving hugs; her welcoming personality; her perfectly cooked fried chicken; and her beautiful house plants. Through her sweet words, her loving terms of endearment and her genuine interest in others, Nelva made the people in her life feel very loved.
 
Nelva was born in Jonesville, Louisiana on May 4, 1941. She was the daughter of Albert Esaw and Janie Marie (Smith) Ford. Nelva was one of five children. Her mother died at a young age leaving Nelva, her three sisters and brother without a mom. Although Nelva and her siblings were not able to live together as they grew up, they saw each other whenever they could and developed strong bonds that lasted a lifetime. From her father’s second marriage, Nelva had a half-sister, three half-brothers, and a loving stepmother.
 
Nelva met the love of her life, Luther Cabel Powell III, at Biggs Air Force Base, on the Fort Bliss military base, in El Paso Texas. Nelva and Luther were married on February 27, 1960, and shared a loving marriage that lasted 51 years. They lived in California and Canada before settling in Pennsylvania. They had a son, Edward Martin and a daughter, Donna Elise. Nelva was a young and fun mom, who welcomed her children’s friends into her home with a hug, delicious food, and always something fun to do. A devoted grandmother, Nelva was very involved in the lives of her two grandchildren, Kat and Nate; even their friends knew her as “Grammy.”
 
Nelva was a licensed beautician, a volunteer at Elwyn Institute, and was often the classroom mom at her kid’s school. She was a beloved leader of Girl Scout Troop 25, teaching the girls how to make a sit-upon, sell Girl Scout cookies, and earn their badges. Nelva and Luther were youth group leaders at Media Presbyterian Church. When the Granite Run Mall opened, Nelva got a job at Claires Boutique. Her beautician skills helped with styling and selling wigs. Nelva worked at Claires for 10 years where she rose through the ranks, becoming a district manager of ten stores. Nelva’s last job was working in the office at Old Marple Veterinary Hospital. She then retired so she could help with her grandchildren.
 
Nelva was preceded in death by her mother Janie and her father Albert, her husband Luther, and her sister Dorothy Pittman. She is survived by her son Marty (Elsa) Powell, daughter Donna (Steve) Sottung, grandchildren Katherine (Erik) Dardine, Nathaniel Sottung, sisters Rickie Ford and Carolyn Holley, brother Sherman “Rocky” Ford and half-siblings Albert “Junior” Ford, Carl Ford, Havard “Woody” Ford, Rita Ford and many nieces and nephews.
 
Visitation: Tuesday, September 10th after 12:00PM at the Minshall Shropshire-Bleyler Funeral Home, Middletown (Rte. #352) & Knowlton Rds., Middletown Twp., Media, PA 19063.

Funeral Service: Tuesday, September 10th at 1:00PM at the funeral home.

Interment: Private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Nelva’s name to Main Line Health Home Care Hospice.