Betsy Powell Black

Betsy Ross Powell Black, a lifelong resident of Durham, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2017 at Duke Regional Hospital after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her husband Wilson Black, her parents Durward Powell and Mary Powell Buck, her brother Durward Powell, Jr, and her sisters Doris Clayton, Carolyn Bowers, Evelyn Bush, Geraldine Walters, and Joanne Woods. She leaves behind her loving family: children Ann Addison, Barry Black (Candy), David Black (Grace) and Beth Cox; granddaughters Meredith Higgins (Jesse) and Whitney Pennell (Nathan); and two beautiful great-grandsons, Easton and Cameron Pennell. She is also survived by two brothers, David Powell of Durham and Clyde Powell of Gulfport, MS.Her greatest pleasure was to be called “Mimi.”Betsy loved Jesus, family, flowers, a good laugh, road trips and home cooking. She was competitive and loved all forms of competition from board games to baseball. She avidly watched The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy; she often outplayed the contestants on every episode. She loved college basketball, and, since she presided over a house divided, rooted for Carolina, Duke, and NC State. If they ever played each other, we knew better than to ask who she was pulling for.Betsy believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the salvation He provides. She truly believed and lived by 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”Betsy was the “Queen Bee” for her children and grandchildren. She loved to cook for everyone and celebrate every single birthday, no matter how old anyone was. Her spaghetti and pot roast with creamed potatoes were requested for every party. She was our best friend, confidante, road buddy, and biggest cheerleader. She believed in us no matter what, challenged us to be our best selves, and taught us to believe the Bible.Her greatest legacy is Ann, Barry, David, Beth, Whitney, and Meredith. We love you the most and will see you again one day.A memorial service will be held at Bethesda Baptist Church on Friday, October 27, 2017. Visitation with the family will be at 10:00 a.m. at the church, followed by a memorial service for her and her husband Wilson at 11:00 a.m. All family members are invited to the graveside service that will immediately follow. At other times the family is receiving friends at the home of Barry and Candy Black. Flowers are acceptable.Proverbs 31:28, “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”

A Video Memorial Tribute by Hudson Funeral Home