Cheryl A. Powell

Obituary For Cheryl A. Powell

Cheryl Ann Powell’s love arrived in small, faithful ways: a carefully chosen gift, a phone call that stretched into an hour, a room made brighter by her smile. She had the rare ability to make people feel remembered—and once Cheryl remembered you, you stayed remembered.

At 70 years of age, Cheryl transitioned peacefully into eternal life on February 17, 2026, surrounded by her family and friends, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Her life was marked by a rare and beautiful kind of strength: the strength to love without needing credit for it. She served with a steady hand and a light touch—never making a fuss, never fishing for affirmation, never announcing her sacrifices. She simply showed up, Again and again. With a warm smile. With thoughtful gifts. With presence. With prayer. With help that arrived before it was asked for.

If Cheryl had a signature, it was this: she made people feel known. She remembered what mattered to you—your favorite colors, the little details, the season you were in—and she responded with affection that was practical and personal. She was a prolific gift-giver, yes, but her giving was never just “stuff.” It was a way of saying, I see you. I’m with you. You’re not alone.

Born August 7, 1955, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Cheryl was the daughter of Emuel Powell Jr. and Jessie Carelock Powell. She was educated in the Steelton-Highspire school system and graduated from Millersville University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She later earned an M.B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University in 1991, bringing to her work both sharp intelligence and steady diligence.

Cheryl began her professional life at Pennsylvania Blue Shield, where she worked for 10 years, and later built a rewarding career at Pfizer Inc. as a pharmaceutical sales representative until her retirement. Her work took her to Akron, Ohio, where she lived for 25 years and made friendships that did not fade with time or distance. Cheryl had the gift of staying—staying connected, staying loyal, staying the kind of friend who keeps a relationship alive for 40 years and more.

But anyone who truly knew Cheryl understood that her resume was only the backdrop to her real vocation: her people.

She loved shopping, and she had an eye for the perfect gift—something that felt uncannily “just right.” She loved decorating, making spaces feel welcoming, thoughtful, and beautiful. She loved gardening, cultivating blooms with the same patient care she gave relationships. She loved conversation—the long kind, the meaningful kind, the kind that strengthened you. She cherished family history and family reunions, and she took quiet joy in being a bridge between generations, gathering stories and gathering people.

Most of all, she loved her family. Caring for others was not a side interest for Cheryl; it was her first priority and the defining feature of her life. She was the aunt who never forgot the children. The sister who carried burdens without complaint. The daughter who honored her parents. The friend who checked in, followed up, remembered, and prayed.

Underneath that steady outpouring was a faith that never wavered. Cheryl was a faithful member of The First Baptist Church of Steelton, Pennsylvania, and during her years in Akron, she also found fellowship and spiritual home at The House of the Lord. She loved gospel music, and she sang in church choirs when she was able. Most recently, she served in the Youth Church ministry, investing in young people with tenderness and conviction. Her trust in God remained unshakeable to the end—anchored, as her family would say, in the kind of refuge described in Psalm 16: “I have set the Lord always before me… I shall not be shaken.”

Cheryl was preceded in death by her mother, Jessie Carelock Powell, who loved her dearly.

She leaves to cherish memories of her, her father, Emuel Powell Jr.; her brother, Charles Bowser (Earline); her sister, Sonja Powell Waters; her dear aunt, Deloise Powell Claiborne. She will be deeply missed by her nieces and nephews, Jaime Bowser-Roberts, Jonathan Bowser (Shani), Paul Waters III, Meredith Waters Barnes (Christian) and Sara Waters (Nour Alddin Almasri), along with a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, godchildren, lifelong friends and her beloved church family.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026 at The First Baptist Church of Steelton, 1850 S. 19th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104 with viewing and visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow at William Howard Day Cemetery.

Cheryl leaves behind a community of people who—because of her quiet, joyful, sacrificial love—felt consistently remembered, genuinely cared for, and profoundly cherished. We thank God for her life, and we miss her more than words can say.

Send flowers to the service of Cheryl A. Powell