Baseball star Powell dead at 35

Published Tuesday, October 6, 2009 thepostsearchlight.com

Funeral services for Brian Powell, a Bainbridge baseball star who played for five different major league franchises, will be on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Bainbridge Church of God with Pastor Dan Tomberlin officiating.

He was 35.

Powell was a first team All-Region 1AAAA pitcher with the Bainbridge High School Bearcats and Gatorade Circle of Champions Georgia High School Player of the Year in 1992.

He was drafted by the California Angels out of high School, but decided to accept a baseball scholarship to the University of Georgia where he became an All-American pitcher with the Bulldogs.

Following his junior year with the Bulldogs, he was drafted by and signed with the Detroit Tigers. He played in the major leagues with the Tigers, Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies.

An alumnus of Bainbridge High School, Class of 1992, Powell was also a starting quarterback with the Bearcats football team.

Powell was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1995 and continued playing professional baseball until retiring in 2005.

He owned and operated South Georgia Sports in downtown Bainbridge and attended Bainbridge Church of God.

Following Powell’s funeral service, interment will follow at West Bainbridge Cemetery with Jason Andrews, Pete Arenas, Rodney Close, Stan Killough, Greg McDonald and Chris Bibby serving as active pallbearers. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ivey Funeral Home, which is in charge of services.

Born Oct. 10, 1973, in Bainbridge, Mr. Powell died Monday, Oct. 5, at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare after a self-inflicted gunshot.

He was preceded in death by his father, Larry Powell.

Survivors include his wife, Glee Putnal Powell of Bainbridge; his son, Will Powell of Bainbridge; his daughters, Chloe and Bree Powell, both of Bainbridge; his mother, Brenda Ingram Powell of Bainbridge; his sister, Leah Bibby of Bainbridge; his maternal grandmother, Jewel Addison Powell of Bainbridge; three nieces, one nephew and several aunts and uncles.