Family, friends, and church members will hold a special day on Sunday, August 28 at 2 pm as St. James Missionary Baptist Church celebrates the life of Mother Bertha Collier Powell on her 100th birthday! The celebration will take place in the George T. Brooks Sr. Activity Center.

Mother Bertha Collier Powell is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. She was born on August 25, 1916 in Walter Hill, Tennessee (Rutherford County) to the late Charlie Collier, Sr. and Lucy Collier. Mother Powell was married to the late Ernest Powell. Mother Powell was baptized at an early age at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Rutherford County under the pastorate of Rev. Sam Alexander. She later moved to Nashville and united with the St. James Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Henry Wesley Turner. Other pastors she served under included: Rev. Morgan Frierson, Rev. Daniel L. Williams, Jr., Rev. Robert McCathern and presently Rev. George T. Brooks, Sr.

She has been an active member of St. James for several years during which time she has enjoyed singing for the Lord as she is a faithful member of the St. James choir and Nashville City District Missionary Baptist Association choir. She was also an active member of Club Number Four auxiliary. Currently, Mother Powell is an active member of the Sunday Church School and has received numerous awards for ‘Perfect Attendance.’

She is also a faithful member of the Juanita Fowler Senior Women Missionary Auxiliary and the Mothers Auxiliary.

Bertha Powell is the second oldest of her 10 siblings in which five are deceased. Living siblings include Charlie Collier, Nannie Snell, John L. Collier and James Ransom Collier. Deceased siblings include Kizzie Mae Durrett, Robert Lee Collier, Beulah Collier Ball, an unnamed baby girl who died upon delivery, and Walter Collier. She has one daughter Mrs. Georgia Mae Gaines and son-in-law, Tommie Lee Gaines.

Mother Powell has four living grandchildren, Chris, Douglas, Regina, Duncan Eric Gaines, and Donnie who is deceased. She has nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Throughout her life, Powell has enjoyed and diligently performed housework to perfection.

Mother Powell has exemplified true Christian character. Her humble spirit and sweet character radiates the ‘fruit of the spirit’: love, joy, peace, long-suffering kindness, goodness, faithfulness and meekness.

According to organizers, “her life has truly been a blessing to the St. James Missionary Baptist Church family.”

The public is invited to share in this celebration with Mother Powell with dinner, music, and reflections from family and friends and gift presentations.

For more information, call the church office at 615-320-7616.