March 20, 2026, 59, Wilson — Laura “Gaye” Powell, 59, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center after a long health battle.
Gaye was born on August 10, 1966, to Audrey and Walter Lee Powell Sr. of Pink Hill and Lucama respectively. Born with a rare birth defect, Gaye underwent one of the first successful shunt surgeries at Duke University. She overcame the odds, graduating from South Lenoir High School in Deep Run and attending Lenoir Community College in Kinston.
A lifelong member of Christian Chapel OFW Baptist Church and a well-known social butterfly, Gaye had a contagious smile and never met a stranger. She had a tenacious and fiery spirit which helped her overcome many of life’s adversities. She was a daddy’s girl who loved her family, the beach, animals—especially dogs—and her Diet Mountain Dew.
Gaye is preceded in death by her grandparents Roscoe and Laura Stilley Stroud of Pink Hill and Silas Lee and Ruth Howell Powell of Lucama as well as many beloved aunts and uncles.
She is survived by her parents Audrey Stroud Powell of Pink Hill and Walter Lee Powell Sr. (and partner Teresa Pate) of Micro, her brothers, Walter Lee Powell Jr. (and wife Wendi) of Lucama and Robert Stroud Powell (and wife Denise) of Kenly); her nieces and nephews: Jodi Cobb (husband Brentley and children Tag, Story, and Atlas) of Lucama, Walter Lee Powell III (wife Colleen and son Walter Lee IV) of Clayton, Jami Jones (husband Clay and children Sky and Axel) of Lucama, Chancey Larsen (husband Dylan and daughter Valley) of Oregon, and Ezekiel Powell of Kenly, a beloved aunt Eva Powell Aycock and uncle Oscar Aycock; and many loving cousins.
Gaye’s last years were spent at Wilson Pines Nursing Home in Wilson where she was in the care of many special nurses and aids, including Ms. Ann Williams and Ms. Estelle Atkinson.
The family will host a memorial service at Christian Chapel Original Free Will Baptist Church in Pink Hill on Saturday March 28, 2026 at 11:00 am. A preceding burial service for family will be held on Thursday March 26, 2026 at 11:00 am at Pikeville Cemetery in Pikeville, NC.
Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made in Gaye’s memory to the University of Mount Olive, 634 Henderson St., Mount Olive, NC 28365, Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Ct, Goldsboro, NC 27534, or Free Will Baptist Children’s Home, 7907 Buck Deans Rd, Middlesex, NC 27557.
Services have been entrusted to Kenly Funeral Service.
