Coats, NC: Mrs. Jean Marie Johnson Powell, age 69, passed away on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at Central Harnett Hospital in Lillington, NC. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday, August 7th, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Coats Methodist Church in Coats, NC. Rev. Frank Moose Horvath will officiate. The family will receive friends following the Celebration of Life Service.

Mrs. Powell was born on September 18, 1956, in Lee County, NC, to the late Craig and Lovenia Norris Johnson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Donald Johnson and Sue Frye. The family purchased a farm and moved to Harnett County between Coats and Benson in the late 50's. Jean worked on the family tobacco farm most of her childhood. She attended Coats High School and graduated in 1974. Marc and Jean were High School sweethearts, and met at Coats High before they could drive and had lunch almost every school day together. They married in 1977. Soon after, they decided to spread their wings, and her husband joined the Air Force just 3 months after their wedding. While at Randolph AFB, TX, Jean became a Defense Contractor for the Air Force. She moved on after a couple of years to the retail industry. After several years with Sears and JC Penny, she found her stride with a new Walmart in Biloxi Mississippi. There she became an Assistant Manager in charge of the store's inventory. It just so happened that subsequent assignments with Marc's career also coincided with a new Walmart being built nearby. Over her career, she opened 5 new stores including the first Walmart in Dunn, while her husband was deployed. Jean retired from Walmart after 15 years and pursued finance positions with hospital systems. After final retirement in 2017, they decided to move back home to Coats. Jean enjoyed having her sister, nieces and nephews close by. She enjoyed seeing her great great nieces and nephew grow up, since they were away for all of others. She had a passion for gardening, and looked forward to the season. She also loved her Siamese Cats. Jean and Marc were always together, often referring to themselves as "Best Buddies".

Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Marc Anthony Powell; and a sister, Elsie Johnson; several loving nieces and nephews.

The family appreciates your thoughts and prayers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Memorials be made to the Coats Methodist Church.

Arrangement by Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Coats, NC.