THE ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD
St. Augustine, Florida
Wednesday, March 5, 2014


Julius D. "Jay" Powell, 88, of St. Augustine, passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2014, at the Clyde Lassen State Veterans Nursing Home with his family by his side singing his favorite hymns.

Jay was born in Lake Butler, Fla., and grew up in Green Cove Springs. He joined the Navy at 16 and initially served as a hook release man aboard the USS Hornet CV-8. He volunteered to be a tail gunner in the Navy's Air Service and was soon caught up in some of the war's pivotal aerial battles. He served on the Hornet until the day it was sunk. Jay was involved in 13 battles as a tail gunner and was shot down three times. He later served on the USS Ommaney Bay CVE 79, which was also torpedoed and sunk with him onboard.

Jay served his country in the U.S. Navy for a total of 30 years: 21 years in active service and nine years as a reserve. Following his military service, Jay worked as an agent for Allstate Insurance Company for more than 20 years, retiring in 1984.

A man of great faith, church was a very important part of Jay's life. He was an integral part of starting many Baptist churches, including Welatka Baptist Church, and was a founding member of Anastasia Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Martha Powell, of St. Augustine; daughters, Devona Rowe (Ralph) of Palatka, Alice Daniels (Jay) of St. Augustine; a sister, Ellen Moody of Rockwell, N.C.; grandchildren, Adam (Tori), Bart (Rachael), Reagan, Cory (Rene'), Kurt (Stacey); and 16 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 7, 2014, at Anastasia Baptist Church with Dr. Walter West officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Pellicer Creek Cemetery.

A visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Johns Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jay's memory can be made to Anastasia Baptist Church Building Fund, 1650 A1A South, St. Augustine, FL 32080.

St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.