Jo Ellen Prater Powers, 92

McMinnville resident and Coffee County native Jo Ellen Prater Powers, 92, was born Jan. 5, 1934 and died April 16, 2026 at her residence following a two-week illness.

A retired secretary for Warren County and a member of the Church of Christ, she was the daughter of the late James Indimon and Margarette St. John Prater. She was married to Howard Travis Powers who preceded her in death. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by infant son, Phillip McGuire Morrison; son, Vernon E. Powers; brother, Grady M. Prater and sister, Jimmie Lee Crouch.

Mrs. Powers is survived by sons, Joel (Julie) Powers and Darryl Powers, both of McMinnville; daughters, Valerie Powers of McMinnville and Linda (Charles) McEwin of Morrison; grandchildren, Kristy (John) Sparkman and Jennifer (Kenneth) Felty, both of Morrison; Brandon (Jessica) Powers of Signal Mountain, and Mary Jo Powers, Jennie Norrod, Travis Powers, Brady Powers and Brandi McCormick, all of McMinnville; eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and sister, Brownie Nabors.

She was well known and prolific for her articles in the Southern Standard and was published just a few weeks ago for a poem she had written as a teenager. She was also a writer of the Pleasant Knoll Bulletin. Mrs. Powers had friends and visitors from several states that would come visit and discuss articles that she had written and was a frequent patron of Foutch's Restaurant and has many dear friends from her restaurant family.

Graveside service and interment will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, April 17, 2026 at Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Warren County with Joel Powers and the family officiating. No service or visitation will be held at High’s. Family and friends will meet at the cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at www.highfuneralhome.com.

High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Main Street Journal

April 16, 2026