Mary Frances Powell Pope

Mary Frances (Powell) Pope (86) was called home to our Lord and Savior on May 5,2026, after a long journey of health issues. Until the end, Mary expressed gratitude for her long life, full of wonderful and varied experiences. She looked forward to the day she would be reunited in Heaven with those loved ones that passed before her.

Born November 17, 1939, to Paul Leonard Powell, Sr. and Lila Mae Dyson Powell of Whiteville, North Carolina. “Spitfire” was Mary’s nickname throughout school. Even though she was vertically challenged, she had a temper not to be messed with, although her silence could be worse. Mary LOVED to sing and took part in numerous competitions throughout North Carolina.

In 1958, she met the love of her life, Gary Pope from Clarkton, on a blind date while he was on leave from the U.S. Air Force. They dated only a couple of weeks before Gary was sent to Germany. They lost touch after a year but reunited in 1961. After only a few months of dating, they married on October 8,1961.

In July 1962, Mary and Gary had a son, Michael. Gary was still in the USAF at that time, so the family moved often. After Gary left the military, he went to work for GE and the family lived in Goldsboro where they had their daughter, Gail. Mary worked numerous jobs, including Sears while Gary obtained a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at N.C. State University. After graduating, Gary went to work for Carolina Power & Light (now Duke Energy) in Roxboro, North Carolina, and Mary became a stay-at-home mom.

When Gary retired in 1996, they moved to the old Pope homestead in Clarkton. They joined Clarkton Baptist Church which quickly became the centerpiece of their daily lives.

 After Gary passed away suddenly in October 2021, Mary moved to Brunswick Health and Rehab in Ash, N.C., where she was living at her time of death.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, father, mother, and brother, Dr. Paul L. Powell, Jr. of Siler City, North Carolina. Mary is survived by her son, Mike Pope (wife, Beth) of Clarkton, N.C., her daughter, Gail (Pope) Warren (husband, Chris) of Sunset Beach, N.C., her granddaughter, Kara Elizabeth (Pope) Adams and her grandson, Joshua Miles Warren.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at Clarkton Baptist Church on May 16, 2026, with visitation from 11:00am to noon and service immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite charity in her memory.