Obituary of Florine L Powell

Powell, Florine L., 92, of St. Petersburg, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, July 18, 2020. She
moved to St. Petersburg in 1951 from her native Muncie, IN where she was a graduate of Muncie
Central High School and attended Ball State Teachers College (now Ball State University). Florine was a
professional accordionist and at age 15, became an instructor of Accordion and taught for many years at
Sanborn's House Of Music in downtown St. Petersburg. She was a cofounder in 1958 and past president
of the Florida Accordion Teacher's Association and served as an adjudicator at state and national
Accordion festivals. Her students won many first place awards at the Florida State festivals. She also
formed Accordion bands that marched in the former Festival Of States parades in the 50's.
Florine was a 56 year member of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for
50 years and in 1963, was chosen to travel to Japan with her Accordion to participate in the "New Life
Crusade" cosponsored by the Japan Baptist Association, Texas Baptist Association, the Southern Baptist
Convention Foreign Mission Board, and the Billy Graham Crusade Team. She joined the Fifth Avenue
staff in 1966 as Youth Director and Church Visitor and later served as Records/Membership Secretary,
Church/Educational Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Church Clerk. She was certified as "Certified
Church Secretary" by the Church Administration Department of the Southern Baptist Convention in May
of 1978 meeting the advanced certification requirements.

In 1980, Florine became the Pastor's Secretary to the Rev. Dr. C. Curtis Hess at Central Christian Church
where she also taught Sunday School until retirement in 1991 and returned to Fifth Avenue. Florine
directed English Handbell choirs at Fifth Avenue Baptist and Central Christian Churches and led handbell
seminars for Pinellas County Christian Churches. She was also an adjudicator at the American Guild Of
English Handbell Ringers contests. Upon retirement, she organized, led, and taught the "Crafty Critters"
needlework.

Florine was preceded in death in 2005 by her loving husband of 58 years, Jerry E. Powell and her parents, Millard E. Stoner and Edith M. Lee Stoner. She is survived by her brother, Marion (Dawn) Stoner of Tucson, AZ.

A visitation will be held from 5-7 PM Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home 7820 38th Avenue
North St. Petersburg, FL 33710 followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 23, 2020 with Dr. Harry G. Mills officiating. Interment will be at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.