Rev. Benjamin Powell, 69, pastor, police officer

The Rev. Benjamin Franklin Powell, 69, a pastor and Philadelphia police officer who was a member of Mayor W. Wilson Goode's security guard, died of heart failure Nov. 13 at his home in Wynnewood.

Pastor Powell joined the Police Department in 1966 and was ordained a Baptist minister a decade later while still on the force. He was eventually promoted to the Civil Affairs Unit and provided security for Goode after Goode became mayor in 1984. Goode's parents, Albert and Rozelar, were members of Pastor Powell's church, 59th Street Baptist in West Philadelphia, and Pastor Powell presided over Albert Goode's funeral in 1987 and Rozelar Goode's funeral in 1999.

He retired from the police force in 1988 and retired as pastor of 59th Street Baptist Church at the end of last year.

Pastor Powell grew up with eight siblings in Orlando. The future minister held burial services for every animal from gnats and flies to birds and squirrels, his sister Elince Shynes said.

After his family moved to Philadelphia, Pastor Powell graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1958. He studied drafting at the Philadelphia Institute of Technology and worked for the Philadelphia Water Department before becoming a police officer.

Pastor Powell studied at Philadelphia College of the Bible and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary while ministering at Philippian Baptist Church in Philadelphia. He became pastor at 59th Street Baptist Church in 1979.

"He was full of wisdom and was able to preach the gospel to all nations," his granddaughter Du Ewa Freeman said. He traveled all over the world, and baptized Christians in the River Jordan, she said.

Pastor Powell oversaw the establishment of the men's discipleship, the women's ministry, and the Emergency Food Cupboard ministry, and initiated a building expansion project at his church.

He was a chaplain for the Misericordia Hospital Cancer Unit. He was a Mason and a member of Concerned Black Men, the Guardian Civic League, the Urban League of Philadelphia, and other civic organizations.

In addition to his sister, Pastor Powell is survived by his wife of 49 years, Lois Isaac Powell; sons Benjamin Jr. and David Solomon; daughters Robin Freeman and Melissa Coefield; two brothers; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

The funeral was Friday at 59th Street Baptist Church. Entombment was in Glenwood Cemetery, Broomall.