Gayle Powers

Gayle Sharp Powers “Nana Gayle” went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, October 21, 2021. Born June 17, 1938 in Louisville, KY, she was the daughter of the late Jesse and Margaret Molthop Sharp.

Mrs. Powers had a life-long love of worship music, voice, and piano-playing. She sang songs at many churches over the years and was choir director at two different churches, Nazareth Presbyterian Church and Cannons Campground United Methodist Church. She was a member of Morningside Baptist Church.

From the age of 10 until she graduated from high school, Gayle received a special piano scholarship at the University of Louisville. She graduated from Valley High School in Louisville and had an undergraduate from Furman University in music. Later, she received two master’s degrees in music from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. She was a member of the Spartanburg Philharmonic Music Club in Spartanburg for more than 20 years.

Mrs. Powers was an elementary school music teacher for 17 years, 15 of which were at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, SC. In addition to her music profession, she cared for her aging mother for 20 years at home.

Survivors include her beloved husband of 63 years, Dr. Jack A. Powers, she was the loving mother of Barrett Powers (Joy) and Benjamin Powers, all of Spartanburg, SC, three grandchildren, Jeremy Powers, Amy Makali (Victor), and Joshua Powers, three great-grandchildren, Hallie, Lucy and Vincent, her sisters, Carol Sharp of Dallas, TX and Shirley Burris (Sherwood) of Lexington, KY, and two nephews, Bryan Sharp and Jesse Sharp.

Visitation will be 2:00 – 2:50 PM Thursday, October 28, 2021 at Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29307. A Memorial service will be at 3:00 PM at the chapel, conducted by The Rev. Dr. Neil McMillan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mobile Meals Service, P.O. Box 461, Spartanburg, SC 29304 or online at www.mobile-meals.org/donate.php or to a charity of one’s choice.

The family would like to thank C. J. Wolfe and Tina Smith for their loving care to Gayle.

Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel